Richard Gould couldn’t have been plainer. While Cricket Ireland dreams of a Euro Nations Cup – a T20 event for Ireland, England, Scotland, the Netherlands and maybe Italy – the ECB chief executive says England simply have no room. “It’s a very nice idea,” Gould noted at Lord’s during the domestic season launch. “[But] our schedule is absolutely jam-packed, and we’re not looking to add to our schedule.”
That stance matters because, bluntly, a European Cup without England would struggle to fly. Insiders at the ECB say they’re happy to listen but doubt broadcasters will bite unless the England men’s side is front and centre. No slots in the calendar, no firm TV deal – that’s the current, slightly prosaic reality.
Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice has been pushing the concept for a while. “I’ve had this on the table for discussion with various stakeholders for quite some time,” he explained earlier this month. “It’s something that I’m very passionate about and that I fundamentally believe in… The conversations have now developed and evolved to a point that I’m much more confident that it is going to happen.” He is talking up a 2027 launch for both men’s and women’s tournaments, ideally staged across the participating nations.
In practical terms Ireland need England in – not least for gate receipts. The last bilateral meeting, a three-match T20I series in September, saw one game washed out yet still drew decent interest. A provisional return trip for 2029 is in the diary, with Cricket Ireland keen to christen the planned national stadium at Abbotstown, Dublin.
Scheduling, though, is the hard bit. The England men’s team play more international cricket than anyone bar India; white-ball series are already shoe-horned between World Test Championship fixtures and the Hundred. Even a short, Asia Cup-style fortnight feels optimistic without pruning elsewhere – and nobody at the ECB seems minded to wield the scissors.
Asked whether recent public grumbles from Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow and Reece Topley had cast a cloud over the new county season, Gould pushed back firmly. “I really don’t agree with that,” he said. “The start of a new season is always an exciting juncture… All of our metrics are up and positive. Yes, we’ve had a difficult winter, but that’s a road bump that we will get over.”
He also offered sympathy for players left out. “When players come out of the England fold, it’s difficult for them. It’s difficult for any player when they get dropped in any sport and they will not agree with the decision. I wouldn’t want them to agree with the decision. These are competitive men and women seeking to play at the highest standard for as long as they can.”
So, for now, the Euro Nations Cup sits in the “nice idea” tray. Unless the international calendar miraculously loosens or a broadcaster waves a sizeable cheque, Gould’s position looks set. Ireland may have to keep the faith – and the phone calls – going a little longer.
