CALLING ALL CRICKETING LAWYERS IN IRELAND

In July/August 2009 there will be a World Cup incorporating over a dozen "International" teams: Bar of England and Wales, England Solicitors, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, West Indies (2 teams) and – for the first time- Ireland.

Ireland formally accepted the invitation in late 2008 and paid the required deposit to boot!  The inaugural tournament, held in Hyderabad, India over Christmas and New Year 2007 was a huge success and a very well publicised and widely supported event (many games were shown on several Indian TV stations ).

The rules of the tournament dictate that each member of a country's 17-man squad must be a qualified and practicing lawyer.  It is also proposed that a minimum number will be over a certain age in order to encourage consistency across the teams.  The tournament is played at a good standard but in a very friendly spirit.  The emphasis is very much upon the teams mixing and socialising together.

An opportunity for Ireland’s lawyers to increase their friends in cricket! Matches will be 35 overs per side and all but the final will be played on Cambridge college pitches (which are of a high standard). Teams arrive in Cambridge on July 25th 2009 and the final is played on July 4th 2009 at the Oval.

Each nation’s team will have formal rules of association formally drawn up for the purpose in each country and Ireland already has an ad hoc committee with representation from the whole island. Teams will be accommodated in Churchill College, Cambridge and, subject to the College being approached in good time, a player may bring his partner.

There will be a small number of "must attend" events which are likely to be based at the colleges and will include one at the Royal Courts of Justice and/or one of the Inns of Court in London. Team sponsors will be widely acknowledged and within the legal community widely publicised.

As in the previous Cup there will be a magazine to commemorate the 2009 World Cup. The editor will be asking for copy and messages from the Chief Justices/Judges of the playing nations for inclusion in the magazine. Also he will provide full name lists of the squads and photographs of the squads playing cricket or just grinning at the camera. (There is a common logo for the World Cup.)

If you are not already on the list please write to cricketlawyers@gmail.com

We want Ireland’s best lawyers to play!