Kevin O’Brien predicted yesterday that Ireland could find themselves playing in front of sold-out, Irish-heavy crowds of up to 30,000 at the 2015 World Cup.

In a dramatic finish Ireland tied with the Netherlands and thus ensured qualification for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015 with two games to spare.

Without the World Cup, Irish cricket would still be rudderless and, increasingly, the World Cup would be poorer for the absence of Ireland.

Ireland can start preparing for a third successive ICC World Cup but they must still wait eight weeks before their next match. It remains a case of the haves and the have-nots, even for the first qualifier for Australia and New Zealand in 18 months time.

Ireland’s cricketers guaranteed another million euro payday after a thrilling tie with the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

Standing with a paper cup of beer in one hand and a tennis ball in the other, Ireland coach Phil Simmons looked his usual chilled self in the aftermath of the thrilling tie against the Netherlands.