New High-Performance Hub in the Irish High-Performance Centre for the Munster Reds and Emerging Series and Munster Hub for the Munster Heat
Cricket Ireland have released details of their plans for a revamp of the men’s senior Interprovincial programme ahead of the 2021 season.
There’s big news for Munster in the announcement; the Munster Reds will be fully integrated into the series going forward meaning they will play a full part in the 50-over competition for the first time. The 50-over cup will be played on a round-robin basis, home and away, while the T20 Trophy will be contested over a series of 3-day festivals which are still to be confirmed in coming weeks.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW PERFORMANCE COACHING HUBS
There was very good news for the MCU too with the announcement of a High-Performance Hub at the Cricket Ireland High-Performance Centre and a High-Performance Centre based out of Munster.
It means that Irish contracted players, interprovincial players and emerging players will all benefit from local and national coaching. Further details on both High-Performance Hub will be announced later this month once plans are put in place.
NEW EMERGING INTER-PROVINCIAL COMPETITION
Cricket Ireland and the Provincial Unions have agreed to create a new tournament that will be played by all four Provincial Union Emerging teams including the Munster Heat Squad which will be fully composed of Munster players. This will be where Munster Heat will compete against the other Unions and will be the pathway for the players to be selected into the Munster Reds InterProvincial team.
SELECTION OF SQUADS
Munster Reds – Under a new selection process the Chair of National Men’s Selectors and National Head Coach will work closely with the Provincial Union Head Coaches to select a core squad of 12 players for each team. Provincial Unions will then add four additional players to form an initial squad of 16 with the flexibility to add in further players. Matchday squads will continue to be selected by Head Coach, Assistant Coach and Captain for the Munster Reds.
The new selection criteria will decrease the number of players at the beginning for Munster based players. Selections will be on merit instead of location.
Munster Heat – Selection of the squad, will be by the Munster Selectors who will be nominated by the Munster Premiership teams. The squad will train in Munster and the top players will have access to training in the Reds Hub in Dublin. The Munster Heat match day team will be selected by the Head Coach of the Munster Heat and the Munster Heat Captain.
“Following lengthy and intensive discussions we believe that there is now a much-improved pathway for Munster players to progress to the top level. The new emerging competition provides a shop window for our Munster players to show their worth to the National selectors and push their inclusion in the Munster Reds Squad. Longer-term plans to invest in training facilities in Munster will also support the development of players through our pathway from under 11’s right up to the senior squad. We believe this process will see a much higher number of Munster Cricket players progressing into future Inter-Provincial cricketers and hopefully beyond that to International honours.”
David Griffin
Chairperson of Munster Cricket
