The Gary Wilson Column

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The Gary Wilson Column

Gary Wilson

What a Test match! What a Test match! ( )

I was actually quite pleased for Alistair Cook that England got the win in the end. The media barrage that he would have faced had England not taken that last wicket would have been huge.

I was actually quite pleased for Alistair Cook that England got the win in the end. The media barrage that he would have faced had England not taken that last wicket would have been huge.

Rain, rain go away Rain, rain go away ( )

The first two days of our Championship game have been badly rain affected. That means one thing, the changing room becomes a play room for the likes of Jason Roy and Rory Burns.

The first two days of our Championship game have been badly rain affected. That means one thing, the changing room becomes a play room for the likes of Jason Roy and Rory Burns.

Chasing leather Chasing leather ( )

If anyone had forgotten what it was like to field in county championship cricket we were reminded pretty quickly last week.

If anyone had forgotten what it was like to field in county championship cricket we were reminded pretty quickly last week.

Big season for Surrey Big season for Surrey ( )

There is that excitement of a clean slate, in our case the chance to gain promotion to division one of the county championship.

There is that excitement of a clean slate, in our case the chance to gain promotion to division one of the county championship.

Difficult homecoming for Ireland Difficult homecoming for Ireland ( )

Coming home from the World Cup last Tuesday, was difficult. We felt like we deserved to be there for at least one more week.

Coming home from the World Cup last Tuesday, was difficult. We felt like we deserved to be there for at least one more week.

Tough going in Hamilton Tough going in Hamilton ( )

It's been a tough day for us having been beaten by eight wickets against the world champions India in Hamilton, New Zealand.

It's been a tough day for us having been beaten by eight wickets against the world champions India in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Belter in Brisbane Belter in Brisbane ( )

A look at the build up to the crucial game against the UAE in Brisbane.

A look at the build up to the crucial game against the UAE in Brisbane.

Day to remember for Ireland Day to remember for Ireland ( )

What a day, another great win for Ireland in a World Cup but this one was slightly different. It was our best win by far.

What a day, another great win for Ireland in a World Cup but this one was slightly different. It was our best win by far.

Roll on the World Cup Roll on the World Cup ( )

We have had a pretty good first week in Australia. The Randwick Petersham Club could not have done any more for us.

We have had a pretty good first week in Australia. The Randwick Petersham Club could not have done any more for us.

Randwick Petersham proving perfect hosts Randwick Petersham proving perfect hosts ( )

We arrived in Sydney on Saturday evening Australian time which is 11 hours ahead of the UK and Ireland. We are staying in a suburb to the South East of the city called Coogee.

We arrived in Sydney on Saturday evening Australian time which is 11 hours ahead of the UK and Ireland. We are staying in a suburb to the South East of the city called Coogee.

World Cups aren't won in October World Cups aren't won in October ( )

They may have been practice games but they were still eight games in an Irish shirt and those guys will have learned a great deal. The tour may not have gone to plan but World Cup games aren�t won in October.

They may have been practice games but they were still eight games in an Irish shirt and those guys will have learned a great deal. The tour may not have gone to plan but World Cup games aren�t won in October.

Porterfield blow for tour Porterfield blow for tour ( )

Losing our leader for the last four games of the trip is a huge blow. He leads both on and off the field through attitude and through his weight of runs. The sooner we have him back the better.

Losing our leader for the last four games of the trip is a huge blow. He leads both on and off the field through attitude and through his weight of runs. The sooner we have him back the better.

Shoulder injury despair Shoulder injury despair ( )

I knew straight away that I was in a bit of trouble but quickly checked to make sure it wasn't out of place.

I knew straight away that I was in a bit of trouble but quickly checked to make sure it wasn't out of place.

Touchdown in Oz and more injuries Touchdown in Oz and more injuries ( )

We arrived in Australia last Wednesday minus a further player, Tim Murtagh had been pulled out of the trip.

We arrived in Australia last Wednesday minus a further player, Tim Murtagh had been pulled out of the trip.

Australia here we come Australia here we come ( )

I say it came to a close, but these days for Irish players there is no real close. The World Cup preparations actually started today when 13 of the lads boarded an emirates flight to Dubai before going on to Australia.

I say it came to a close, but these days for Irish players there is no real close. The World Cup preparations actually started today when 13 of the lads boarded an emirates flight to Dubai before going on to Australia.

Frustration as Surrey blow promotion hopes Frustration as Surrey blow promotion hopes ( )

Last week was one of the most frustrated I have felt on a cricket pitch. In their second innings, we had Worcester 34 ahead of us 7 wickets down when Jack Shantry strolled to the crease.

Last week was one of the most frustrated I have felt on a cricket pitch. In their second innings, we had Worcester 34 ahead of us 7 wickets down when Jack Shantry strolled to the crease.

Busman's Holiday Busman's Holiday ( )

We have had a very quiet week since finals day so I took the opportunity to go away for a couple of days with my wife, Jennifer.

We have had a very quiet week since finals day so I took the opportunity to go away for a couple of days with my wife, Jennifer.

Porterfield ends Surrey dreams Porterfield ends Surrey dreams ( )

Finals day ended much too prematurely for anyone involved with Surrey. By 3.30pm we were back at the hotel catching the afternoon football.

Finals day ended much too prematurely for anyone involved with Surrey. By 3.30pm we were back at the hotel catching the afternoon football.

T20 Finals - again T20 Finals - again ( )

This week saw us qualify for T20 Finals day for the second year in a row.

This week saw us qualify for T20 Finals day for the second year in a row.

Non-stop cricket Non-stop cricket ( )

The season has around a third of the way to go, but it seems as though we have been playing every day.

The season has around a third of the way to go, but it seems as though we have been playing every day.

A sweet London derby win A sweet London derby win ( )

The new Surrey captain on a rain affected draw with Essex and a sweet victory in the London derby.

The new Surrey captain on a rain affected draw with Essex and a sweet victory in the London derby.

The Surrey captaincy The Surrey captaincy ( )

I take on the mantle of captaincy at Surrey following a knee injury to Graeme Smith.

I take on the mantle of captaincy at Surrey following a knee injury to Graeme Smith.

T20 action begins T20 action begins ( )

T20 action gets under way with Kevin O'Brien joining Gary in the Surrey side.

T20 action gets under way with Kevin O'Brien joining Gary in the Surrey side.

Back to county cricket Back to county cricket ( )

It's back to county cricket this week for most of the Irish team and back to conditioning and training for the home based players.

It's back to county cricket this week for most of the Irish team and back to conditioning and training for the home based players.

No joy against Sri Lanka No joy against Sri Lanka ( )

Gary Wilson looks back to the Sri Lankan series which ended in disappointment.

Gary Wilson looks back to the Sri Lankan series which ended in disappointment.

Excited by Test challenge Excited by Test challenge ( )

With the dust now settled on a winter away from home and ultimately a disappointing performance at the World Cup there is still much to be optimistic about.

With the dust now settled on a winter away from home and ultimately a disappointing performance at the World Cup there is still much to be optimistic about.

Making sense of Freaky Friday Making sense of Freaky Friday ( )

Freaky Friday saw a chastened Ireland crash out of the T20 World Cup.

Freaky Friday saw a chastened Ireland crash out of the T20 World Cup.

Nerves jangled against Zimbabwe Nerves jangled against Zimbabwe ( )

Gary Wilson looks back on the nerve jangling T20 World Cup win against Zimbabwe.

Gary Wilson looks back on the nerve jangling T20 World Cup win against Zimbabwe.

Starting slowly � again Starting slowly � again ( )

The reality is that we continuously start tours slowly. What is also true, is that the games in the Middle East last week will have no bearing on how we do on the sub continent over the next two or three.

The reality is that we continuously start tours slowly. What is also true, is that the games in the Middle East last week will have no bearing on how we do on the sub continent over the next two or three.

Looking back at the West Indies tour Looking back at the West Indies tour ( )

What was particularly pleasing was that over the two T20 games Alex Cusack was named man of the series.

What was particularly pleasing was that over the two T20 games Alex Cusack was named man of the series.

Goodbye to Trinidad Goodbye to Trinidad ( )

Our Trinidad leg of the trip has come to an end and the results we were looking for didn't quite transpire.

Our Trinidad leg of the trip has come to an end and the results we were looking for didn't quite transpire.

Close links with World News Close links with World News ( )

There have been two bits of news that have dominated the cricket world in the past week and I guess I have close links with both.

There have been two bits of news that have dominated the cricket world in the past week and I guess I have close links with both.

Going to the Caribbean Going to the Caribbean ( )

Gary looks at the Ireland squad selection for their tour of the Caribbean.

Gary looks at the Ireland squad selection for their tour of the Caribbean.

Church, the pub, Leopardstown Church, the pub, Leopardstown ( )

Church, the pub, Leopardstown, England woes in the Ashes, and Jacques Kallis all come under the Gary Wilson microscope.

Church, the pub, Leopardstown, England woes in the Ashes, and Jacques Kallis all come under the Gary Wilson microscope.

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