Australia to tour Ireland

Mike Hussey wrapped up an easy Australian win in the World Cup © Getty Images

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Australia will complete a full tour of the British Isles and Ireland over the next two years.

Set to begin next summer’s Ashes with the first Test in Cardiff, Australia will take on Scotland in Edinburgh on August 28, and Ireland will be their hosts for a one-day international in June 2010.

The ODIs will be the first for the world champions against International Cricket Council Associate countries, apart from during the World Cup, Twenty20 World Championship or Champions Trophy tournaments.

Australia beat Ireland by nine wickets en route to winning the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom and his Cricket Scotland counterpart Roddy Smith believe this agreement with Australia is telling evidence of what the two countries can help one another achieve.

“Attracting full member countries to play in Scotland and Ireland is one of the key objectives of our respective cricketing and commercial strategies, and for both of us to secure such a high-profile team as Australia in consecutive years is a great coup,” said Deutrom.

“It is only by testing ourselves against the very best that we will understand how far we need to progress.

“We are also indebted to the ECB for their support to both Scotland and Ireland in helping to bring about this excellent agreement for Associate Cricket.”

Smith concurred: “This is fantastic news for both Ireland and Scotland.

“To attract the Australians to our countries is a major achievement for us both, and we are very grateful to the ECB and CA for their support.

Marcus Trescothick starred for England when they played an ODI in Ireland in June 2006 © Getty Images

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“Although Scotland and Ireland are fierce competitors on the field, this is a great example of the two countries working together off the field to both our benefit.”

ICC high performance manager Richard Done sees such fixtures as a major stepping stone in the global spread and improvement of his sport.

“This is further good news for the development of cricket,” he said.

“One of the ways for the best Associates to close the gap at the top is to play meaningful matches against the likes of Australia.”

The world champions deserve credit, Done believes, for signing up for the fixtures.

“It’s great that Australia is showing its support for the ICC’s high-performance programme with the confirmation of these matches,” Done added.

“Apart from giving the Scottish and Irish players the chance to perform against some of the best cricketers in the world, it will also help to raise the profile of cricket in those countries.

“Cricket fans in Scotland and Ireland will also get the opportunity to see the world champions in action and, it is hoped, that will ensure big crowds at the matches.”

Before then, both Ireland and Scotland are set to play matches against New Zealand in Aberdeen this July, following the Kiwis’ Test and ODI tour of England.

Scotland will also play Ireland at Clontarf in July and have an inaugural ODI against England in Edinburgh on August 18.