Ireland and ten Doeschate dominate European cricket in 2006
In a year coloured by preparations for the 2007 World Cup and a truly global programme for the Intercontinental Cup, one of the undoubted high points was a first-ever appearance by a European XI, which took on a strong MCC side in Rotterdam in June.
Although the European team was weakened by injuries and other problems of non-availability, they put up a good fight before succumbing to a fine run-a-ball not out 61 from former New Zealand Test player Chris Cairns, and this historic fixture was successful enough to ensure that next season's rematch will take place at Lords.
Of the three European participants in the ICC's High Performance Program, it was Ireland who had most cause for satisfaction this year. Not only did they make their ODI debut with a respectable performance against England, but their squads won every European championship they took part in except one: the Women's under-21 tournament, which went to England.
Their under-19 side, moreover, almost pulled off the shock of the tournament at their World Cup in Colombo, losing to England by only 4 runs with fast bowler Niall McDarby taking six for 50 in the process. Ireland's superiority at every level from the senior First Division to the under-13s set a standard for their competitors, and the Irish can look forward with confidence to the period beyond the 2007 World Cup.
Scotland had a rather more mixed year, putting up a good fight against Pakistan in Edinburgh in June but twice losing heavily to Bangladesh in their first overseas ODIs in December. But they had the edge over the Irish in a badly rain-affected Intercontinental Cup match in Aberdeen, and will travel to the UAE in January knowing that a win there would take them to their second final in three years.
Both Scotland and Ireland had their good days in the reorganised C&G Trophy, Scotland winning three out of four matches during a golden period in May and finishing ahead of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire in the Northern Conference. Ireland had just the one success, against Gloucestershire, and will be hoping to be more consistent next season.
The Netherlands, too, had mixed fortunes, conceding a world record 443 for nine to Sri Lanka in the first of two ODIs in Amstelveen, but twice putting up solid batting displays against their experienced opponents. They went on to win their tri-series against Bermuda and Canada in South Africa, and although draws against Kenya and Bermuda put them out of the running for a place in the Intercontinental Cup final, a six-wicket victory over group winners Canada provided some compensation.
The year was a personal triumph for The Netherlands' Ryan ten Doeschate, who recorded a maiden first-class century against Kenya in March, went on to win the Player of the Tournament award at the European Division 1 Championship in Scotland in August, and then made an Intercontinental Cup record 259 not out against Canada in December.
For the leading European nations outside the HPP, 2006 was a year of promise. Denmark nearly caused an upset and are already imbedded in the new World Cricket League Division 2 through qualification at the 2005 ICC Trophy, while Italy found the going tough in the senior First Division, but by finishing fifth, they confirmed their place in the Third Divisions of the WCL.
Norway continued their remarkable progress through the senior European competitions by winning the Second Division title, defeating Jersey in the final. Jersey, competing in their first European tournament, came back from an initial defeat by France to reach the final, and learned as the year ended that their reward would be a place alongside the Norwegians in the WCL Division 5.
Other debutants were Guernsey, who just missed out on a spot in the Second Division semi-finals, and Cyprus, who finished second to Finland in the Fourth Division tournament which took place in Belgium in August.
With the ECC's Centre of Cricket Excellence and Cricket Academy moving to La Manga this year, the youth development programme broke new ground, and the success of this initiative gave rise to ambitious plans for new cricket facilities at this Spanish location. 2006 also saw the first-ever European women's academy, launched by Cricket Scotland in association with Lloyds TSB Scotland, which helped Scottish, Irish and Dutch girls prepare for the under-21 championships.
Towards the end of the year, the Guernsey Cricket Board announced that they had made a development agreement with Sussex CCC, an enterprising approach which may well point a significant way forward for other European countries. Italy, meanwhile, have set up an Academy of their own, hoping to create a firmer basis for their youth cricket.
In a memorable evening at Lords in October, the ECC celebrated its first ten years of achievement. As ICC European Development Manager Richard Holdsworth said on that occasion, there is every reason to expect that the next ten years will see equally great advances, and Europe's representatives in the World Cricket League and the 2007 World Cup will take to the field knowing that they are better prepared and have a more solid infrastructure behind them than ever before.