Even in today’s match I wrote in this author’s linked Irish Cricket Podcast Patreon feed, a joke something along the lines of “are the Irish bowlers deliberately bowling badly so that we don’t notice Josh’s figures?”
I doubt there was anyone more pleased when Josh’s 4 overs aged my joke terminally
When a simple catch was grassed off his bowling, he was one bowler who really didn’t need that, but 3 wickets followed, and a couple of deliveries hitting the magic 87mph, and apart from what Dan Norcross described as an almost erotic cover drive, runs off his bowling was hard to come by
Now to the future, we are all hoping to see a rejuvenated confident Josh streaming in to the Zimbabwe batting on Tuesday.
But Josh talking about playing the Test in May is great news
If nothing else it might encourage CI to confirm the dam match is going to happen. This must be the Schrödinger's cat of test match’s, everyone is talking like it is going to happen, but until I see it on my calendar I remain uncertain if it alive or dead
My plans to try and travel to the unconfirmed (don’t get me started!) Stormont test has been more inked than penciled in with the idea of Josh tearing in with a fresh red ball in his hand, so anything that CI can do to help him, they must be trying to set up a few 3-4 day 1st class games prior to the test, and if not , if he can play a few Red ball matches for Middlesex, even in their 2ndXI must be supported
It is difficult to believe it has been almost 7 years since I first became aware of Josh. On what looked at cold damp dark day in Ireland,
There he was with the arrogance or ignorance of youth putting it up the noses of England’s top order, and the following year showing it was not some one-off in the covid series at the Rosebowl with a 3 wicket burst
He then came to the world’s attention with his hat-trick vs New Zealand in 2022, we were certain that Ireland had found someone to succeed Murtagh and Rankin
I am not exempt of cruel comments
Even in today’s match I wrote in this author’s linked Irish Cricket Podcast Patreon feed, a joke something along the lines of “are the Irish bowlers deliberately bowling badly so that we don’t notice Josh’s figures?”
I doubt there was anyone more pleased when Josh’s 4 overs aged my joke terminally
When a simple catch was grassed off his bowling, he was one bowler who really didn’t need that, but 3 wickets followed, and a couple of deliveries hitting the magic 87mph, and apart from what Dan Norcross described as an almost erotic cover drive, runs off his bowling was hard to come by
Now to the future, we are all hoping to see a rejuvenated confident Josh streaming in to the Zimbabwe batting on Tuesday.
But Josh talking about playing the Test in May is great news
If nothing else it might encourage CI to confirm the dam match is going to happen. This must be the Schrödinger's cat of test match’s, everyone is talking like it is going to happen, but until I see it on my calendar I remain uncertain if it alive or dead
Ireland have the makings of a decent attack
Mark Adair with his 80mph swing and seam, already has an enviable test record
McCarthy has that ability, to hit that hard length around 4th stump that, can be exposed in white-ball, has brought him a good test return
Campher is there as the classic handy 4th seamer
Spin wise Humphreys shows that he could be an exceptional talent and backed up by McBrine’s off-spin
But a firing Josh offers that cliche Point-of-Difference that could take that burst of wickets on a flat test pitch with an older ball
On a personal level
My plans to try and travel to the unconfirmed (don’t get me started!) Stormont test has been more inked than penciled in with the idea of Josh tearing in with a fresh red ball in his hand, so anything that CI can do to help him, they must be trying to set up a few 3-4 day 1st class games prior to the test, and if not , if he can play a few Red ball matches for Middlesex, even in their 2ndXI must be supported
It is difficult to believe it has been almost 7 years since I first became aware of Josh. On what looked at cold damp dark day in Ireland,
There he was with the arrogance or ignorance of youth putting it up the noses of England’s top order, and the following year showing it was not some one-off in the covid series at the Rosebowl with a 3 wicket burst
He then came to the world’s attention with his hat-trick vs New Zealand in 2022, we were certain that Ireland had found someone to succeed Murtagh and Rankin
It has been the fall in the last few years that has been frustrating
We have seen how high his ceiling can be, and then watching his paces drop, his wickets dry up, and his runs per over rise
Left thinking is it a glitch or was Josh one of those players who had a couple of golden years never to be repeated
Go the Wild Thing.
Should be the first fast bowler picked. Big game player. Can’t believe he was omitted the first two matches.