Dear Merv,

Merv Hughes was one of my all time favourite cricket players; others included Derek Randall, and Jamie Cox.

I got to see Merv play in a few test matches and a few one dayer's mostly from the greatest place to watch cricket - the old hill at the SCG. However it was his performance at the WACA that lives long in the memory. Always a fierce competitor Merv gave his all, all the time, but still found time to chat and play with the crowd and that was the reason for his popularity, Merv made you feel equal and that made you feel special.

In Perth in 1988 he produced his most hostile performance against Viv Richards, West Indies in the second innings claiming 8 scalps for 87 runs in 37 overs giving him 13 wickets in the game. With opening bowling partner Geoff Lawson injured and unable to bowl, Merv took the mantle to Greenidge, Haynes, Richardson, Hooper, Logie, Richards and Dujon and sent them all back. Australia didn't win but MG Hughes was the man of the match.

So it was with great interest I listened to his interview with Damien O'Meara on RTE just prior to the Ireland v Australia ODI. Merv, now an Australian selector, comes across as approachable and amiable as ever. O'Meara serves up a couple of full toss pies about their training routine before hitting Merv with a meaty question, Do Ireland have Test ability? Quickly on the defensive, the tail ender displays a quality forward defensive, 'I'm probably not the best bloke to determine that, but all things are positive and they need to continue to progress and improve and go through the process to get Test Status, but it's in the hands of Cricket Ireland and the Irish players and how hard they are prepared to work".

O'Meara riposte's with a nasty short pitched delivery, "What about playing Ireland without arguably without the best cricketer we have ever produced in Eoin Morgan"? After a giggle Merv replies "Yea" "Well he's doing very well for himself playing very well for England, but if you need to rely on one player then there is something wrong; what I've seen of Ireland they look for a contribution from everyone, the more players that contribute they greater the chance of success, that's what we look for in the Australian camp."

The interviewer goes on to ask about Mike Young the Aussies baseball fielding coach, and looking to other sports for an edge. The T20 game's influence, the role of selector, and the future of the fifty over game, Merv goes on to explain that to him in 50 over game the key overs are the 15 to 40 ones.

The key points of the interview are thus: Test Status can be achieved with hard work; the key overs in any 50 over game are 15 - 40, the more contributors in your side the better and look to other sports for any edge possible.

Every time Eoin Morgan displays brilliance, his birthplace and roots provoke debate on web chats and forums on both sides of the Irish Sea and throughout the world. My emotions on this have been documented; it's time to move on.

Merv was right on about everything except relying on one person, Ireland did not solely rely on Morgan but he clearly was the player that could have been the cornerstone to his country for the next decade as Lara was for the West Indies; Tendulkar was for India and Steve Waugh for Merv's Aussies.

One player can make a difference in cricket, especially when player has the potential to be one of the greatest one-day players in the game's history. In England's case just look at their record in T20 and ODI prior to and since his debut. Morgan's series winning contribution is proof of the effect one man can have.
Time to turn Eoin Morgan's success into a positive for Irish Cricket. One of the requirements to obtaining full membership of the ICC is the ability to be competitive. The ICC have invested in the top associate nations to help raise the standard and close the gap between the full and associate nations. Ireland can point to a fact that most other associate nations and indeed most Test Nations cannot, we are an exporter of cricket talent at international level. Further, the ICC Core Values contains following the statement under the headline of 'Fairness and equity'. 'We are fair, just and utterly impartial.'

When a country can entice players from neighbouring country based on the fact they can offer those players International Cricket at a level not available in their own country something is clearly not equable and is clearly unjust.

The process of application is a necessary one, as is the criteria for an application, but should players be allowed to move from one country to another during any such application/assessment period? Will Ireland's playing standards be judged to include any such players?

Something needs to be done to protect the investment the ICC has made in the associate nations, and while the path is clear for ambitious nations to progress from Division 8 of the World Cricket League to Division 1, the path from Division 1 to Full membership and thus test status is not so clear. Ireland's application will be viewed as a historic event as it will clearly define a route for other countries with aspirations.

For now though Merv has his hands full with an Ashes tour this winter and world cup shortly after. Currently Australia are not achieving the levels they are accustomed to, you have your cut out, because England at 5/2 look the value bet this winter.

True Blue mate,
Rob Quin.