As the year draws to a close, we look back at five Irish cricketing highs of 2014.

DK - only one Ireland cap but certainly deserved many more.

The first round draw has been made for the 2015 Irish Senior Cup.

Arthur was a very good batsman, happiest at 3 or 4 and also gained his sole Irish rugby cap as a wing v Wales at the Arms Park in 1894-95.

CRICKET IRELAND have expressed their heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Australian Test cricketer Phillip Hughes following the terrible news of his death in Sydney.

Following the death of Phil Hughes, CricketEurope looks back at the career of Raman Lamba, who also died after being struck on the head during a game in Bangladesh in 1998.

Plans for an overhaul of the Irish Senior Cup have been shelved and players will be surveyed for the views on the future of domestic cricket.

Boyd Rankin signs three year contract deal with Warwickshire.

No fewer than eight Irish umpires have been named in the European panel.

YMCA and former CIYMS player PJ Moor earns call up to Zimbabwe squad for ODI series against Bangladesh.

Editor Anne Harris presented the Sunday Independent Aengus Fanning Emerging Player of the Year to Craig Young, the strapping fast bowler who battled chronic injury to force his way into the World Cup squad.

Cricket Ireland unable to appoint successor to Trent Johnston as Head Women's Coach. Will restart recruitment process shortly with Mark Lane filling the role as stop-gap.

Irish Women's cricket was handed a boost yesterday after Cricket Australia confirmed three T20I's to be played next August.

Nick Larkin's century for New South Wales puts him firmly in the limelight of Ireland's World Cup selectors.

Ireland stars Kevin O’Brien and Cecelia Joyce have been rewarded for impressive international seasons by being named winners of the top prizes in the 2014 Cricket Ireland Awards.

The nominations for the 2014 Cricket Ireland Awards have been announced, with Kevin O’Brien, Max Sorensen and William Porterfield all in the running for the RSA Men’s International Player of the Year Award.

Cricket Ireland met yesterday to discuss radical plans to transform the country’s leading club competition.

Ireland's hopes of securing Boyd Rankin's return for the World Cup look to be over after he was named in the England Lions squad to visit South Africa.

Ireland and North Down player Nick Larkin to make debut for New South Wales.

CROSSING the road and stepping onto the damp veranda of one of Hove’s trendy coffee haunts, Ed Joyce pulls out a chair and apologises for running late.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons leaves Ireland tour early to fly to Trinidad to be with ill mother.

IT’S been called the “tour from hell” and the “jinxed tour” but one player who has risen above all the injuries and withdrawals with Ireland in Australia and New Zealand is Bready’s Craig Young.

Phil Simmons is already looking forward to the icing on the cake of a busy summer of cricket for Ireland in 2015 - the chance to do battle with Australia

The squads will each take part in two national training weekends over the course of the winter, as well as attending regular sessions within their respective regions.

16 year-old Leinster player Anna Kerrison becomes the first female to enrol at the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons looking for financial backing and more fixtures if Ireland are to take their cricket to the next level.

Ireland's Australian training camp in February next year will include a one day match against Sydney Grade club Randwick Petersham.

Ireland spinner George Dockrell has signed a new contract with Somerset to keep him at Taunton for next season.

An in-depth interview with Ireland Women's star Louise McCarthy

Tim Murtagh and Chris Rogers were joint recipients of the September Player of the Month award.

Niall O'Brien hoping Ireland win at Manuka Oval will be a good omen for next year's World Cup clash at the same venue.

Ireland will face stiff opposition after New Zealand named a star-studded line-up for their clash later this month.

Lisburn batsman Craig Ervine's Ireland international ambitions look to be at an end after he returned to the Zimbabwe training squad.

Tim Murtagh and Paul Stirling have been withdrawn by Cricket Ireland from their acclimatisation tour of Australia and New Zealand due to injury.

Paul Stirling did not travel with his four fellow county professionals today to join up with the Ireland squad in Australia for their pre-World Cup acclimatisation tour.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has welcomed Ireland's national cricket team to the Gold Coast ahead of its Australian competition debut on Tuesday.

Gary Wilson has agreed a two-year contract extension with Surrey which will run until the end of the 2016 season.

Cricket Ireland have signed up two coaches to help prepare for the World Cup next spring.

There will be a familiar face in the opposition ranks when Ireland play the New South Wales 2nd XI in two games in Canberra next month as part of their World Cup acclimatisation.

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has announced that seamer Graeme McCarter will be leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

IRISH cricket is set for an enormous windfall from an unexpected group of billionaire backers.

The Irish coach has thrown down the gauntlet urging the players to make themselves 'undroppable' for next year's ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Rao however had faith not only in his own ability but also a belief that he could bring together a select squad of young NW cricketers and give them the direction they needed to take their game to the next level.

Malahide paceman takes five wickets on debut to help Durham ease relegation worries while putting serious dent in Notts title hopes.

Peter Chase makes senior debut for Durham against Nottinghamshire.

What lessons can cricketers learn from the genius that is Rory McIlory?

Six months out from the World Cup, there appears to be only 19 players in with a chance of going to the finals.

Gibson left “by mutual agreement” on the eve of the West Indies home series against Bangladesh with former captain and current team manager Richie Richardson taking over on an interim basis.

National Coach Phil Simmons has promised fans a "day to remember" when Ireland face England next May.

Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth, as a former ICC European Regional Manager, knows the importance of success at these tournaments if Ireland is to achieve its quest for Test status by 2020.

Andrew Balbirnie has signed a new two year contract with the famous London club.

The 21-year old always had loads of potential but the last two seasons have seen him gone from a serious prospect to a seriously talented cricketer.

The sad passing of former North-West Cricket Union Chairman Jim Simpson will be felt throughout Irish cricket, not least around the Eglinton area where Jim lived for many years.

Irish International fast bowler Peter Chase has been registered to play for Durham in the upcoming County Championship game with Lancashire.

The South had much the better of the annual encounters winning both the Under 11 and 12 games and being in a dominant position in the Under 14 game when rain brought a premature halt to proceedings at Stormont.

THE O’Neill’s Ulster Cup Final, will take place on what must now be known as Rearrangement Sunday.

Bobby Rao, nobody in cricket from Secunderahad to Strabane ever called him anything other than this variation of his childhood family nickname of Bobjee, was a remarkable all round cricketer.

Southern U11 and 14 squads announced while Under 12's will be announced following training day at Phoenix.

The following Northern sides have been named for the annual North v South fixtures on Tuesday 12 August.

THE first player to score a century for Ireland at the World Cup finals believes the squad that heads to his homeland of Australia early next year has the batting talent to better his individual score.

Trent Johnston has accepted a coaching job with Cricket New South Wales and will begin a two-year contract with the Australian side in September.

Ireland are to play eight games in both Australia and New Zealand as part of a month long tour to aid their World Cup preparation.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Australia, Noel White, visited the headquarters of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Melbourne recently.

It cannot have happened too often that the players not selected for an Ireland international have more to feel good about than those chosen but at Stormont on Wednesday that will be the case.

On Wednesday Ireland begin a series of three fifty over matches against Sri Lanka A which for many in the home squad will be pivotal in determining their chance of heading to Australasia next February.

Having a one to one coaching session with one of the worlds greatest batsmen, its every aspiring cricketer's dream.

Craig Young may have played only one game on Ireland’s tour of the Caribbean but suggest to him that it was a disappointing return and the Bready pace bowler snaps back with a surprising reply.

Kevin O'Brien hit an unbeaten 90 from 49 balls to lead Red Steel to a 9 wicket win over Antigua.

Cricket Ireland have confirmed Malahide and Stormont as the host venues for their ODI's against England and Australia in 2015.

Pleasing irony that Ireland have targeted a product of England’s development programme – Matthew Dunn, a 22-year-old fast bowler with Surrey.

Ireland A were in action against MCC at Malahide but it is the absence of one name from the squad, rather than the names included, that catches the eye.

THE Big Three – India, England and Australia – are now, formally, in charge of world cricket with the ‘promise’ they will work more closely with the smaller cricket nations in their regions! Whether it will be put into practice, however is more uncertain.

It’s actually a remarkably simple concept, two blokes in a studio each week, nattering about basically everything in Irish cricket.

The tri-cornered tournament — also played over 50- and 20-over formats — is clearly limited in scale.

For Shane Getkate anything is a bonus after his near-death experience three years ago this month, but the new Northern Knight is determined to take advantage of his “second life”.

Last week I had the great pleasure of spending a few hours in the company of Warren Deutrom, CEO, Cricket Ireland and I can assure you the time flew.

Forgotten man of Irish cricket hoping five star performance for Gloucestershire can put him back into the minds of the Irish selectors.

Ireland were all set to become the first team to tour Pakistan in six years before this week’s terrorist attack on Karachi airport.

Cricket Ireland were prepared to send their squad to Pakistan this year to give them meaningful preparation ahead of the World Cup finals next February and March.

Andrew White is determined to win his place back in the Ireland team - and he has an extra special reason.

Former Ireland international Jeremy Bray will be coaching Denmark at World Cricket League Division 4 in Singapore next month.

The North West Warriors have effectively sacked their own international selector!

Craig Young and John Mooney stake claims for a place inn the World Cup squad.

GEORGE Dockrell has become only the sixth Irish-born cricketer to take 100 first-class wickets when he returned 2-26 for Somerset against Durham at Taunton.

How Ireland spinner George Dockrell combines study with cricket.

After this year's virtual famine of international fixtures for Ireland there will be a feast for home cricket fans in 2015 with the visits of both England and Australia.

Having made an impact in his short stint at Surrey last year, O'Brien is looking forward to a longer stint in the competition.

Ireland all-rounder Kevin O'Brien returns to Surrey for the first part of their T20 Blast campaign which starts on Friday.

Irish cricket has been handed a massive boost with the news that both Australia and England have agreed to play one-day internationals here as part of their 2015 itineraries.

The lack of home international games makes this summer one of the quietest ever for Irish fans.

Ed Joyce was back on his home turf on Wednesday – turning a sod of finest Wicklow loam as work got under way on the new artificial pitch at his old school.

Cricket Ireland have begun the process of searching for a new title sponsor in time for next year’s World Cup after RSA confirmed their seven-year affiliation will conclude at the end of 2014.

Ed Joyce has signed a new two-year extension to his contract, which will see him stay at Hove,until at least the end of the 2016 season.

Boyd Rankin could be back in the green of Ireland for the World Cup next year, Cricket Ireland chief Warren Deutrom believes.

Newstalk 106-108 fm have been unveiled as the new sponsor of the 2014 Interprovincial Series

Joe Doherty has received the highest honour in Irish cricket, being elected President of Cricket Ireland at the AGM held in Dundalk.

Paul Stirling scores unbeaten century against his employers Middlesex.

Irish all-rounder Andrew Balbirnie hoping to become the latest Irishman to make a name for himself at Middlesex.

Ireland's star batsman Ed Joyce scored his second century of the match at Edgbaston, the first time he has achieved the double.

O'Neills have been unveiled by Cricket Ireland as the new sponsor of three Ulster competitions in a two year deal.

Ireland are in pole position to play their first Test match in 2018.

Ireland could be playing Test cricket in Malahide within five years if it wins through the competition confirmed by ICC in Dubai.

An inaugural England-Ireland Test match at Lord's has become a foreseeable reality after the International Cricket Council specified its pathway to the top table for associate members.

The ICC Board approved the introduction of an ICC Test Challenge which will take place every four years between the lowest ranked Test team and the winner of the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

With the new cricket season fast approaching many players will have put themselves through a tough pre-season - but have they considered the mental aspects of their game?

Irish cricket all-rounder Kevin O’Brien, most famed for his quick fire 113 runs against England in 2011, spoke with The Edition following Ireland’s early exit from the ICC World Twenty20 last month.

Kevin O'Brien relishing Trinidad return.

Ed Joyce scored his 32nd first class hundred and passes 14,000 runs in the process.

Middlesex County Cricket Club announce the appointment of former England Women’s Cricket Head Coach, Mark Lane, as Director of the Middlesex CCC Central Academy.

This is a special day for Ireland all around the world and that stretches as far as Bangladesh with our first World T20 match.

The holder of the dual citizenship Smith has announced he would not be playing for Ireland but that has not stopped the Cricket Ireland (CI) to think of hiring his services in future.

Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh and the Belfast-born actor James Ellis who died at the week-end were good friends, not least through their mutual love of cricket.

South African captain Graeme Smith bowed out of international cricket this week, which some fans have suggested is merely a prelude to his ultimate ambition of playing for Ireland.

The acclaimed documentary on Irish cricket has been shortlisted for the Sports Documentary award.

From wearing the three lions on his shirt to rearing new born lambs in Bready - Boyd Rankin.

The Irish Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers met on Saturday last for their annual general meeting and seminar.

Romance is a moveable feast for an international sportsman. Francesca Georgiou-Harris knows that, which is why she had her Valentine’s night out on the 13th this year.

Nathan Waller confirms Irish aspirations stating he's not interested in representing Zimbabwe at T20 World Cup.

Cricket Ireland are looking for volunteer National Selectors to help identify the next generation of Irish internationals capable of performing on the world stage.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom has expressed his surprise but delight at the prospect of Ireland playing Test cricket within five years.

The 22 year-old, who featured in three Under 19 World Cups for Ireland between 2008-12, has been in scintillating form with the ball for his club Waratah-Mayfield.

Cricket Ireland has responded cautiously to the announcement of sweeping reforms by the International Cricket Council after a board meeting in Singapore

Craig Young reflects on an exciting 12 months in his cricketing career.

Kevin and Niall O'Brien both included in IPL auction list.

Warren Deutrom has said that he is satisfied that the intentions of ICC and the “Big Three” is to ensure that there is meritocracy in cricket and that a clearly defined pathway to Test cricket will be created to achieve this.

Ireland win three categories as the ICC Europe awards are announced.

We once again delve into the archives - back this time to 2002 and a look at strange and unusual dismissals in international cricket.

Ireland's dream of test cricket at Malahide will come a step closer if the International Cricket Council adopts a radical new plan for organising the game.

The Long walk to Freedom-How cricket helped smash Apartheid.

The board is comprised of cricket luminaries such as Michael Holding, Ian Chappell, Alvin Kallicharran, Damien Martyn, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill and Niall O’Brien.

Tim Murtagh signs three year deal extension with Middlesex.

William Porterfield is calling on his Ireland team to draw inspiration from Sri Lanka as they continue their quest to gain Test status from ICC.

When the English team left these shores, it was the general opinion not only that they were practically the best all round combination that the country could produce... but that they were a really fine side.

Boyd Rankin on how nerves and cramp meant he had a Test debut to forget in the Ashes.

Last week Rankin realised an ambition, making his Test debut against Australia in front of a capacity crowd at the SCG and was immediately dismissed by all and sundry as a one-cap wonder.

The people, plays and key decisions that brought a Cinderella sport into the mainstream.

We examine the horror show of England's Ashes.

It's our last chance of saving face in the Ashes series and we are more determined than ever to get that Test win.

Jason Molins' claim to fame is that he captained the first Irish team to qualify for the World Cup.