Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has lent his support to Ireland's bid for full Test status.
Cricket's elite is something of a closed shop, with just ten full ICC members eligible to play the traditional five-day format of the game.
Ireland are currently associate members, but have been the dominant force at that level for the best part of a decade and Cricket Ireland has been seeking promotion to full membership in order to capitalise on the team's World Cup victories over Pakistan and England in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups and continue the development of the sport.
A play-off system could see Ireland win Test status in 2018 but Gillespie believes Phil Simmonds' men should not be made to wait any longer.
'One fantastic way to give Test cricket a lift straight away would be to give Ireland Test status,' said the 39-year-old, now the coach of English county side Yorkshire.
'It is something that should happen sooner rather than later from the ICC. Let's face it, outside of Australia and England and, to a lesser extent, South Africa, people don't turn up to watch Test cricket. That's just the way it is, and it's sad,' he told All Out Cricket.
'Imagine if Ireland were given Test status. That would be huge news in world cricket, and it would be a massive positive story for the world game. They are ticking all the boxes. They've punched well above their weight in limited-overs tournaments.'
[h/t BBC]
'It is something that should happen sooner rather than later from the ICC. Let's face it, outside of Australia and England and, to a lesser extent, South Africa, people don't turn up to watch Test cricket. That's just the way it is, and it's sad,' he told All Out Cricket.
'Imagine if Ireland were given Test status. That would be huge news in world cricket, and it would be a massive positive story for the world game. They are ticking all the boxes. They've punched well above their weight in limited-overs tournaments.'
[h/t BBC]
