Anthony Ireland (cricketer)

Anthony John Ireland (born 30 August 1984) is a cricketer from Zimbabwe. A tall fast bowler, he relies on bounce and swing, and performed consistently during his tenure with Zimbabwe, taking 38 wickets in just 26 matches at a healthy average of 29.34. He was one of many talented white Zimbabweans to leave the team due to the situation of the ZCU and the country, to pursue careers in English domestic cricket, where he has represented Gloucestershire and Middlesex before joining Leicestershire for the 2013 season.

Anthony Ireland
Personal information
Full nameAnthony John Ireland
Born (1984-08-30) 30 August 1984
Masvingo, Zimbabwe
BattingRight-hand bat
BowlingRight-arm fast medium
International information
National side
ODI debut (cap 87)24 August 2005 v New Zealand
Last ODI19 March 2007 v West Indies
Only T20I28 November 2006 v Bangladesh
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2009–2010[1]Southern Rocks
2007–2010Gloucestershire
2011–2012Middlesex (squad no. 88)
2012→ Gloucestershire (loan)
2013–2014Leicestershire (squad no. 88)
Career statistics
Competition ODI T20I FC LA
Matches 26 1 43 85
Runs scored 30 2 285 192
Batting average 3.75 – 6.19 7.38
100s/50s – 0/0 – –
Top score 8* 2* 29 27
Balls bowled 1326 18 6,354 3,553
Wickets 38 1 124 103
Bowling average 29.34 33.00 31.50 31.56
5 wickets in innings – – 4 –
10 wickets in match – – 1 –
Best bowling 3/41 1/33 7/36 4/16
Catches/stumpings 2/– 0/– 10/– 9/–
Source: Cricinfo, 26 January 2021

International career

Ireland made his ODI debut against New Zealand at Bulawayo on 24 August 2005 where he took the wickets of both Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns. He performed consistently with the ball, being one of the few prospects on the Zimbabwe team, after the exodus of players like Gavin Ewing, Andy Blignaut, Henry Olonga, Andy Flower and Tatenda Taibu. However, even with his performances Zimbabwe cricket continued on its downturn, as they gradually became weaker and weaker as an international side.

He toured the West Indies with the Zimbabwean team but broke his left hand in practice. Although he recovered, he struggled to adapt to the West Indian conditions, as Zimbabwe were thrashed 5-0 by the hosts. A regular member of the side in 2006, he was selected in the 2007 Cricket World Cup squad and returned to the Caribbean, taking a wicket in each of his games.

Zimbabwe was at an all-time low at this point in time, and Ireland, soon after Zimbabwe were eliminated from the 2007 Cricket World Cup, retired from international cricket. He explained his decision in an exclusive interview with Cricinfo.[2] He felt he was wasting his talents for a poor side, in a country in political turmoil, and felt that he should pursue his cricket elsewhere, and so Anthony Ireland went to England.

Cricket in England

Playing in the United Kingdom, Ireland enjoyed a successful season in 2004 for club teams Belvoir CC and Belton Park CC, before returning to Zimbabwe. He played for the PCA Masters against Gloucestershire in a game before the England vs Pakistan Twenty20 international, at Bristol. He has since played for Thornbury Cricket Club in the south west of England.

Retiring from international cricket after the 2007 World Cup,[3][4] he signed a two-year deal with Gloucestershire under the Kolpak agreement.[5] With Gloucestershire, he has had a number of significant impacts with the ball, taking 7/36 against Leicestershire, and match figures of 7/110 against the same side, while taking wickets whenever called upon. He has since been a regular in the Gloucestershire team, along with the likes of Jon Lewis and Steve Kirby. He recently returned briefly to Zimbabwe to play in the Twenty/20 tournament for the Southern Rocks, taking 3 wickets in his only game.

He signed for Middlesex in 2010 in a contract that would take him to the end of the 2013 season.[6] He was not able to gain a regular spot in the Middlesex team and returned to Gloucestershire on 20 August 2012.[7]

On 7 March 2013, Ireland won a one-year deal with Leicestershire.[8] After the 2013 season, he was awarded a further season long contract.[9] He was released by Leicestershire at the end of the 2014 season.[10]

Retirement

Ireland retired in 2014 after being released by Leicestershire. He moved to New Zealand, and now works as a sales manager.[11][12]

References
  1. https://stats.thecricketer.com/Archive/Players/49/49652/all_teams.html
  2. "Ireland: "I cannot work with such people" interview".
  3. Cricinfo - Ireland: 'I cannot work with such people'
  4. "Anthony Ireland Quits International Cricket at zimcricketnews.com". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
  5. "Gloucestershire sign Zimbabwe ace". BBC News. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  6. "Anthony Ireland leaves Gloucestershire for Middlesex". BBC News. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  7. "Anthony Ireland rejoins Gloucestershire from Middlesex". BBC News. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  8. "Ex-Gloucestershire bowler Anthony Ireland signs one-year deal with Leicestershire". This Is Bristol. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  9. "Sykes, Ireland, Robson and Wells sign new deals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  10. https://www.skysports.com/amp/cricket/news/12040/9461957/county-championship-anthony-ireland-and-michael-thornely-to-leave-leicestershire
  11. https://www.skysports.com/amp/cricket/news/12040/9461957/county-championship-anthony-ireland-and-michael-thornely-to-leave-leicestershire
  12. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-ireland-64946289/?originalSubdomain=nz

5. Ireland penalised for beamer | Cricdb

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