Ireland's World Cup wrap

**“**That's one thing that we've done is lads have stuck their hand up throughout the batting line-up, and obviously we've got a couple hundreds but we've had nineties and things like that, so every game lads have contributed and put their hand up,” Porterfield said.
With the ball, Alex Cusack topped the tables with seven wickets at 24.57, including best figures of 4-32 against Zimbabwe.

While Ireland’s strength at the tournament was in its batting, Porterfield said the country had talented young bowlers with plenty of potential, including World Cup squad members Peter Chase and Craig Young.

“They obviously didn't get it going in this competition. But they're knocking on the door. They're not a million miles away,” he said.
“They're not express, but they're probably sitting in around 83, 84 (miles per hour) and they can swing the ball so they've got skills there, as well.

“Stuart Thompson, as well, he's small but he's quite skitty when he gets it right, as well. There last two games he's been chucked into the deep end there playing against the world champions first and then Pakistan, and he's accredited himself very well.
“So there’s young lads there that are looking to put their hands up and obviously if we can get them enough cricket then they'll be good to go, as well.”

Porterfield said the addition of a cricket academy in Ireland, a board restructure and the development of grounds and net facilities all boded well for the future of Ireland cricket.

“The academy has been a great addition for ourselves, as well, because the young lads coming through need to play cricket, as well, when they come out of school,” he said.

“They need to get into a system where they can. We've got the interprovincial system up and going, as well, which is three-day, 50-over and Twenty20 comp back home.

“When that grows, as well, and we get an extra couple of teams, then hopefully that develops into a first-class structure and that'll turn into obviously need to go semi-professional first, then turn into a professional structure so lads don't have to leave Ireland to make a living out of cricket.

“There's a lot of great things that have happened that are in our control and how we're trying to develop the game, and hopefully when the day comes and we do get test status and we have got the first-class structure back home, then things will be bright there.”

Ireland has a home fixture in Dublin against England in May followed by an ODI in Belfast against Australia in August, as well as hosting the qualifying tournament for the ICC World T20 in July.

With Ireland hoping to continue to develop and push for Test status, Porterfield said he hoped to see more fixtures added to the schedule.
“We've missed out on the quarterfinals on that run rate. I think we've shown what we can do,” he said.

“Combined we've played in four years as what one (Test) nation has in a year. I think we obviously need more than just games, but yeah, there has to be more teams in world competitions.”