Ireland

Ireland
They still have the boasting rights as the No. 1 Associate but Afghanistan are snapping hard at their heels. The successful defence of their World Cricket League Division One title was the high point of the year for Ireland, and they also managed to inflict one-off ODI defeats on Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. In Twenty20 they reached the World Cup in the Caribbean but rain robbed them of a possible upset after their bowlers had restricted eventual winners England to 120 for 8. Ireland's enthusiastic young chief executive Warren Deutrom maintained the team's profile with his indefatigable efforts, but towards the end of the year even he appeared to grow weary at the shunning of Associate cricket by those at the top of the game. A real plus was the return of Ed Joyce after his dalliance with England, evidence that traffic to the Full Members need not be one-way. Of the four Associates, Ireland, as was the case in 2007, are the ones with the depth and confidence to bloody a few noses at the World Cup, even if the doctored format means progressing beyond the group stage is unlikely.
What 2011 holds Ireland will continue to push hard at the bottom-end Full Members and despite a paucity of opportunities will bloody more than a few noses.