Warren Deutrom tries to predict what the game in Ireland will look like in 2018.

Warren Deutrom is Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland and also sits on the ICC Chief Executive’s Committee. As well as winning the ICC Intercontinental Cup and qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20, Ireland is one of 94 Associate and Affiliate Members that will benefit from a new US $300 million funding package for the Pepsi ICC Development Programme.

Cricket in 2008:

After the excitement of Ireland’s World Cup in 2007, 2008 has been no less intense for Irish Cricket. Our international schedule has encompassed 10 months, 42 matches alone for the men’s senior team, cricket on three continents and three trophies, including the men’s senior European trophy, first qualifying spot in next year’s ICC World T20 Cup, and an unprecedented third consecutive ICC Intercontinental Cup, a feat compounded by retaining 10th place in the Reliance ODI rankings. New governance structures in the newly-named Cricket Ireland should help realise professional management of the new funding to flow down to on and off field activity in 2009.

Cricket in 2018: Staring into a crystal ball for 2018? Two major factors could propel Irish Cricket to the higher echelons - incorporation in the Future Tours Programme, and significant commercial funding driven by broadcast revenues. These will provide vital experience home and away, profile for the sport at home and finance to reinvest in the sport at all levels. As for Test Cricket, the current intensity of the international schedule and player workload means that the world will need to embrace streaming countries into more than one division to allow interlopers to the cosy Full Member club. As for T20, expect it to truly globalise and democratise the game.