The Gold Coast hopes to entice more international cricket teams to the Glitter Strip to prepare for their summer campaigns.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Irish cricket team is kicking off its 2014-15 World Cup bid with a match against a full-strength Queensland Bulls side on at Robina on Tuesday.
Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the cricketers to the Gold Coast – in Australia to start an eight-week acclimatisation tour – and said he hoped others would follow their lead.
"One of the key aspects of our Gold Coast Sport Plan is to attract more high-performance sports teams to the city," Cr Tate said.
The Irish team's training camp is the 18th on the Gold Coast over the past 12 months – most have been swimmers and footballers - which has tipped $3.6 million overall into the local economy.
"We'd love to see more international level cricket played on the Gold Coast and certainly we're working towards that," Cr Tate said.
The Bulls had lost an early wicket before lunch on Tuesday, but were 1-83 after 15 overs, scoring well over five runs an over.
The game is the Queensland Bulls' final hit-out before the Sheffield Shield and Big Bash season begins and the Irish are playing games in Australia and New Zealand before the World Cup.
Ireland are coached by former West Indian Phil Simmons, who is being helped by former Queenslander Matthew Mott and Surrey's coach Carl Hopkinson, who will concentrate on the Irish team's fielding drills.
Simmons has coached the Irish since 2007, having finished his playing career as an opening batsmen with a first-class average of 35.6.
Mott played for both Queensland and Victoria and will join the Irish team for the duration of their Cup campaign.
After Tuesday's 50-over game at Kerrydale Oval, the teams will meet again on Thursday at Redlands Oval.
The top-level Bulls team, captained by James Hopes, includes Warwick fast bowler Mike Steketee, established quick Ben Cutting and in-form batsmen Usman Khawaja and Luke Feldman.
Ireland will play the United Arab Emirates at the Gabba in the World Cup in February, with Australia taking on Bangladesh and Pakistan meeting Zimbabwe in the other pool games at the venue.
Queensland: James Hopes, Chris Hartley, Nathan Reardon, Usman Khawaja, Ben Cutting, Peter Forrest, Jason Burns, Luke Feldman, Michael Neser and Mark Steketee.
Ireland: Kevin O'Brien (c), Stuart Poynter (wk), Andrew Balbernie, Andrew Poynter, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, Stuart Thompson, John Mooney, Andrew White, George Dockrell, Andrew McBrine, Graeme McCarter (12th)
