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It was a bit of misnomer when Warren Deutrom was named chief executive of Irish cricket in 2006 – he was the only executive!
Ireland had three employees, with the Englishman joined by the men’s senior team coach and a part-time PA.
Twelve years later and Cricket Ireland boasts 34 staff, annual revenue has jumped from 260,000 euro to 9.2 million and 20 players are on central contracts.
Success on the pitch, particularly those famous World Cup wins over Pakistan in 2007 , externaland England four years later, was the catalyst for the revolution of the sport on the Emerald Isle.
The ultimate reward for consistent progress comes on Friday with Ireland’s inaugural men’s Test match against Pakistan at Malahide.
Deutrom – a former ICC events manager and marketing manager with the ECB – spearheaded Ireland’s long battle for Test status and his persistence paid off.
The prize has been won but it remains to be seen if Test cricket will take root on an island where the sport still struggles to make the back page.
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