Leading up to the 2015 Cricket World Cup hosted in Australia, the idea was pitched to reach out to (then) Associate cricket nations that were in line to qualify for the Cup. Fresh off winning the 2011-13 ICC World Cricket League Championships, retaining their one day international status and booking a trip to Australia, Cricket Ireland were the first to answer to the call to be hosted for warm-up match leading into the World Cup. While only very new to international cricket, Ireland had already made a name for themselves when they upset Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup in Jamaica (on St Patrick’s Day!) and by undertaking the highest successful run chase in a 2011 World Cup match against England in 2011 in Bangalore – a record that still stands.
Since Randwick Petersham hosted the Irish national team leading up to the 2015 World Cup in Australia – where they only missed out on the quarter finals on net run rate – Cricket Ireland has sent over a player every season on the Cricket Ireland Official Overseas Programme. As part of this programme, an Irish player spends the Australian summer with Randwick Petersham, often representing a higher grade. A number of Irish players outside of the Overseas Programme have represented in the Lower Grades and Metropolitan Cup over the years.
In 2017, Randwick Petersham also sent a touring team to England and Ireland, with the blessing of the Irish Consulate in Sydney. The team played at the Leinster, Merrion, Malahide and Pembroke Cricket Clubs.
In 2022 Cricket Ireland returned to Coogee to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup further cementing our relationship.
See the Honour Roll of Cricket Ireland Scholarship Recipients below:
Randwick Petersham team photo at Pembroke Cricket Club,
Sydney Parade, Dublin prior to the final match of the tour.
Randwick Petersham vs Ireland – 6th February 2015
Randwick Petersham are proud to have hosted Cricket Ireland on Friday 6th February 2015 at the sea-side paradise, Coogee Oval; a result of 18 months of meticulous planning by John Stewart and John McLoughlin before the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
In the week leading up to the match, the Irish team stayed around and trained at Coogee Oval, while assisting the community by holding clinics for local children and giving Randwick Petersham players a chance to train against an international team.
In what was a career highlight for many players, Randwick Petersham finished victors on the day, winning by 5 wickets with 6.1 overs to spare. After Ireland captain William Porterfield with 74 (107) and Ed Joyce with 49 (62) led their side to a creditable 7-255 (wickets spread around) off their 50 overs, all the Randwick Petersham batsmen contributed, with Anthony Sams 80 (84) and Nathan Price 51 (71) in particular leading the way to the Waterford Crystal Trophy used to commemorate the match.
Less than two weeks later, the Irish would go on to open their World Cup campaign with a resounding win over the West Indies in Nelson, justifying their assertions that their preparations with Randwick Petersham were the best lead in they could have had.
For more information, check out the full match report and scorecard here.
Randwick Petersham vs Ireland – 4th October 2022
Blazing sunshine greeted Tuesday October 4 and Coogee was picture-perfect for the first T20 between Ireland and Randwick Petersham’s 1st Grade side. Daya Singh called correctly and took advantage of a flat looking pitch with Camden Hawkins and Ben Mitchell striding to the crease. Hawkins (6) fell cheaply to Barry McCarthy (2-11) to have the home side teetering 1-10. Anthony Sams was the next to depart to the spin of Gareth Delany (2-10) before Ayre (27) combined with Mitchell for a 53 runs stand. The other bats pushed the score to 7-125 in the allotted overs as the Irish bowlers tightened the screws backed up by good fielding.
In response Balbirnie fell early to Ayre and Lorcan Tucker (9) fell to a good catch by Sams off Ralston and when Campher (4) fell the scoreline read 3-31. But Doheny stood tall and showed his knowledge of the Coogee wicket to hold the innings together with a well-constructed and powerful innings with 65* from 54 deliveries to give Ireland a 3-wicket win. Doheny was a well-deserved Man of the Match presented by Michael Anker and Randwick Petersham Co-Patrons Robin Gardner and Alan Turner presented Andrew Balbirnie and his team with the beautiful Waterford Crystal Lismore trophy made specially for the match.
Unfortunately, rain intervened the following day for the match between Ireland and an SCGXI to be captained by Chris Green. But a Civic Reception, unveiling a commemorative plaque, attended by the Consul General, Mayor, local MPs and sponsors was a fine occasion to cement relations between Cricket Ireland and our Club. Furthermore, the showcase match v NSWXI on Friday also fell victim to the weather as 90mm of rain decided the outcome.
Randwick Petersham is eternally grateful to the Consul General of Ireland Ms Rosie Keane and her staff for their enthusiastic assistance from the outset and their engagement of partners for the week notably Waterford and Teelings Whiskey. Appreciation is also extended to naming rights partner Lefand, long term partners O’Neills Sportswear, Petersham RSL, Titan Fitness and Mellick Wealth Management for their eager support from the beginning as well as Cricket NSW, NSW Office of Sport, The Lansdowne Club, Randwick City Council, Hydralyte and Zing. Additionally, a huge thanks to Temple Bay Coogee for hosting the welcome cocktail event on the Wednesday evening and finally to Courtyard Coogee and Chargrill Charlies providing nutritious breakfasts and lunches throughout the week.
Ireland Captain is a former Randwick Petersham player
In November 2019 Andrew Balbirnie was named as the new Ireland Test and one-day captain after long-serving skipper William Porterfield stepped down.
Dublin-born Balbirnie, 28, became Ireland’s second Test captain and the fifth man to captain the one-day international side taking over from William Porterfield, who will continue playing, and led the side 253 times after taking over from Trent Johnston in 2008.
Andrew Balbirnie played a season with Randwick Petersham in 2016-17 and is capped 1st Grade player no. 107. He joined the club under the RPC-Cricket Ireland Official Overseas Scholarship program.
Balbirnie played the first two rounds in 2nd Grade before being called into 1st Grade in round 3 against Northern District at Mark Taylor Oval. Batting no. 7 he was unluckily run out for 23 off 27 balls with three boundaries after coming in to bat late in the day with the score 5-355. He ended the season with 358 runs in 2nd Grade including a brilliant 121 against Uni. of NSW. He was also involved in two century partnerships.
Shortly after returning to Ireland he was selected to join the National Ireland Squad and went on to play First Class cricket with Ireland which was granted Test status in June 2017. In August 2017 he made his maiden first-class century with 130* on the first day of the match against Netherlands at Malahide.
“To be asked to captain my country is an absolute honour,” Balbirnie said. “It’s a proud moment, not just for me but also for my family and everyone who has been there on my cricket journey so far – especially my coaches, teammates and friends at Pembroke Cricket Club.
“Since 2008, William Porterfield has been an amazing leader on and off the field, not just to me but anyone who has been lucky to represent Ireland. Taking over from our greatest captain will certainly be a hard act to follow but one I’m looking forward to getting into. William still has a huge role to play in this team going forward and I look forward to working with him over the next couple of years.”
Balbirnie made his international debut in 2010 and has appeared 123 times for Ireland. His first international match as captain was on 7 January 2020 when Ireland faced the West Indies in a one-day international in Barbados.
Cricket Ireland & Randwick Petersham Official Overseas Scholarship Recipients – Honour Roll
Barry McCarthy - 2015/16
Andrew Balbirnie - 2016/17
Jack Tector - 2017/18
Harry Tector - 2018/19
Stephen Doheny - 2019/20
Tim Tector - 2022/23
Scott MacBeth - 2022/23
Jake Egan - 2023/24
John McNally - 2024/25
Adam Leckey - 2025/26
3 Irish ex Randy Petes in action for Cricket Ireland v Zimbabwe 2nd T20I at Malahide August 2021
Harry Tector, Barry McCarthy & Andrew Balbirnie
Randwick Petersham & Ireland Historical Links
2001 – Ireland Wolves coach Peter Johnston represented Randwick Petersham in the Metro Cup
17-6-2010 – Nathan Hauritz represented Australia v Ireland at Clontarf in a single ODI at Clontarf
2012-13 – Former Ireland u19 all rounder represented RPCC between 2nd and 4th Grade
2015 – Former 1st Grade Captain Matt Mott joins Ireland as fielding coach at the 2015 ICC CWC
Feb 2015 – Randwick Petersham host Ireland at Coogee Oval during the New Balance Community Cricket Week and a 50 over match was played between First Grade and an Ireland XI
27-9-2016 Australia (David Warner & Usman Khawaja) and Ireland (Barry McCarthy and Peter Chase) played a single ODI in Benoni, SA
April – Sept 2022 – First Grade all rounder Ben Mitchell spends a summer in Dublin playing for Leinster Cricket Club and ends the season as the competition’s leading all rounder
May 2022 – Former 1st Grade Captain Nathan Hauritz appointed Ireland spin bowling coach
Oct 2022 – Randwick Petersham again host Ireland at Coogee Oval during the Lefand Cricket Week and a T20 match was played between First Grade and an Ireland XI
Oct/Nov 2022 – 4 ex Randy Petes represent Ireland at the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia – Balbirnie, McCarthy, H Tector and Doheny. Nathan Hauritz – spin coach
April 2023 – Harry Tector Test debut as Ireland Test cricketer #22
May 2023 – Harry Tector ranked 7 on the ICC One Day Batsman rankings (the best ever ranking by an Irishman)
