IRELAND are halfway to joining the big boys in cricket -- limited Test status in the future is not completely impossible -- and they have decided against joining the counties in next year's Friends Provident Trophy next season.

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This is not because the Irish think they are too strong, which is certainly not the case, but because their ICC playing commitments are so extensive. Phil Simmons, their coach, described another county season as "a step too far". Holland have accepted the chance to step in, a very good consequence as they should have been in the mix intitially to join Scotland and England Amateurs.

Simmons explained the Irish decision. "Our international fixture calendar has become very comprehensive, and, assuming we get what we think we will get fixture-wise and we continue to qualify for events and their latter stages like the last couple of years, we may have between 40-50 international fixtures in 2010. Leading up to the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent, I want to focus on primarily the 15 or 16 players who will represent us there, and I feel that the 12 additional games would be a step too far for the guys."

Simmons continued: "The Friends Provident Trophy used to serve us well timing-wise in terms of preparing the players for the international summer. However, given our success and expansion, we are now playing more and more cricket out of season. It's approaching an all year round game for Irish cricket, therefore the timing doesn't work as well as in past years. Next year we will have Intercontinental Cup games, the ICC World Twenty 20 qualifiers, and hopefully the finals themselves before our traditional season begins."

The Friends Provident Trophy used to serve us well timing-wise in terms of preparing the players for the international summer. However, given our success and expansion, we are now playing more and more cricket out of season. It's approaching an all year round game for Irish cricket, therefore the timing doesn't work as well as in past years. Next year we will have Intercontinental Cup games, the ICC World Twenty 20 qualifiers, and hopefully the finals themselves before our traditional season begins."

Simmons however recognised that the Friends Provident Trophy had played a crucial role in the development of some of Ireland's best players, and he revealed his plans to fill that void; ?There is no doubt that the Friends Provident Trophy provided a great platform for players to show their potential, and Paul Stirling and Regan West showed to me just what they were capable of in these games.

"To ensure that the fringe players get plenty of opportunities to showcase their talent, the ECB are actively assisting us to increase our A team schedule. I hope that we can get a minimum of five three- day games against County Second XIs next year. In addition, we have also accepted the offer to play a couple of matches against one of the touring Full Member A teams next year, details of which are currently being finalised with the ECB."

Ireland will also be playing in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in January. They compete in the World Cricket League and could send a team for the European Championship.

"To ensure that the fringe players get plenty of opportunities to showcase their talent, the ECB are actively assisting us to increase our A team schedule. I hope that we can get a minimum of five three- day games against County Second XIs next year. In addition, we have also accepted the offer to play a couple of matches against one of the touring Full Member A teams next year, details of which are currently being finalised with the ECB."

Ireland will also be playing in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in January. They compete in the World Cricket League and could send a team for the European Championship.

"There is no doubt that the Friends Provident Trophy provided a great platform for players to show their potential, and Paul Stirling and Regan West showed to me just what they were capable of in these games.

"To ensure that the fringe players get plenty of opportunities to showcase their talent, the ECB are actively assisting us to increase our A team schedule. I hope that we can get a minimum of five three- day games against County Second XIs next year. In addition, we have also accepted the offer to play a couple of matches against one of the touring Full Member A teams next year, details of which are currently being finalised with the ECB."

Ireland will also be playing in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in January. They compete in the World Cricket League and could send a team for the European Championship.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom added: "This was not an easy decision for us, and it was only reached after careful consultation with our key stakeholders, including the national coaches, the Board, the Cricket Committee, ICC and our key commercial partners. Notwithstanding any possible changes to its format down the line, international cricket is our bread and butter and the means by which we are measured on the global stage. Therefore, we felt that we needed to focus our limited financial resources on preparing for our international programme.

"This was not an easy decision for us, and it was only reached after careful consultation with our key stakeholders, including the national coaches, the Board, the Cricket Committee, ICC and our key commercial partners. Notwithstanding any possible changes to its format down the line, international cricket is our bread and butter and the means by which we are measured on the global stage. Therefore, we felt that we needed to focus our limited financial resources on preparing for our international programme." He paid tribute to the generous support of the ECB.

"This was not an easy decision for us, and it was only reached after careful consultation with our key stakeholders, including the national coaches, the Board, the Cricket Committee, ICC and our key commercial partners. Notwithstanding any possible changes to its format down the line, international cricket is our bread and butter and the means by which we are measured on the global stage. Therefore, we felt that we needed to focus our limited financial resources on preparing for our international programme." He paid tribute to the generous support of the ECB.