Ireland unveil contract expansion

Youngster Paul Stirling, seen here batting against England in August 2009, will benefit after six more full-time professional contracts were handed out to the squad by Cricket Ireland

Cricket Ireland have announced the award of six full-time contracts to home-based players plus cash assistance for their county performers.

Trent Johnston, Alex Cusack, Andre Botha, Kevin O’Brien, John Mooney and Paul Stirling will each be given the backing to allow them to focus on training and preparations ahead of the 2011 World Cup to be held on the Indian sub-continent.

The funding for the ambitious programme is being derived supplied by sponsors RSA Insurance, the Irish and British governments in the form of Sports Council funding and the increased revenue from the International Cricket Council following World Cup qualification.

In addition to the six A contracts, three players employed by English county sides - Will Porterfield (Gloucestershire), Niall O’Brien (Northamptonshire) and Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire) - and schoolteacher Andrew White will receive support through B contracts.

Category C will see the remaining players all vie for the other five places on offer.

Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Warren Deutrom said: “We are delighted to be able to increase the number of our contracted players from two to six.

“Together with our County-contracted players, that brings to 10 the number of Irish cricketers playing and training on a professional basis.

"This increase in professionalism would simply not be possible without the support of the ICC, our two Sports Councils and our exceptional team sponsor, RSA.”

Ireland coach Phil Simmons added: “It’s another step forward for Irish cricket, and shows just how serious we are in our intentions.

“It’ll stand us in good stead as we prepare for the next intensive 15 months of cricket in the lead up to the World Cup.”