Beating Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup was a landmark success for Irish cricket

By Alex Gulrajani BBC Sport NI

Ireland's cricketers go into 2010 aiming to build on their considerable achievements over the last 12 months.

They have a lot to live up to as 2009 brought much success for the boys in green.

A third consecutive Intercontinental Cup victory and qualification for the 2011 World Cup were marked off the field by captain William Porterfield being named Associate Player of the Year by the International Cricket Council.

To round it off, team manager Roy Torrens was made an OBE for services to the game.

The squad starts the new decade with a trip to Sri Lanka to face Afghanistan in the Intercontinental, followed by a series of Twenty20 warm-up games and World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai.

Waringstown's Gary Kidd is back in the Ireland set-up

Afghanistan defeated them in a World Cup qualifier last April but wicketkeeper Gary Wilson does not expect the same mistakes to be made again.

"We have got to approach them like any other game and not take them lightly like we probably did last year," said Wilson.

"They come at you hard and play with a lot of passion."

The following Twenty20 games see Ireland return to the format in which they reached the Super Eight stage of last year's World Twenty20 in England.

That success was preceded by the historic victory over Pakistan in the 50-over World Cup in 2007 and Torrens feels the win at Sabina Park propelled the Irish into the cricketing limelight.

"Cricket has never been the same in Ireland since St Patrick's Day 2007," said the team boss.

"We went out to the West Indies to play in a World Cup tournament and 60% of the country did not know they had a cricket team.

"Overnight we hit the headlines and suddenly Ireland grew up the fact that, not only did they have a cricket team, but a team making a name for themselves."

The former pace bowler, capped six times, believes Ireland now have a cricketing programme which is the envy of the rest of the associate nations.

The country has had success at under-13, 15, 17 and 19 levels, while the under-23s are the current European Champions following victory over Scotland in 2007.

Gary Kidd was involved in that European victory and is back in the senior squad after a two-year absence. The Waringstown player admitted it had been tough being away from the first team, but was relieved at his recall.

Coach Phil Simmons guided Ireland through a successful 2009

"It was hard work last year playing just in the 'A' team and it's taken a lot of hard work to get back in, so I am relieved the hard work has paid off."

The spinner recently worked on the Lord's ground staff before returning home to complete a degree, but the 23-year-old has aspirations of returning across the water in the future, only this time as a player.

"At the moment I am focused on university and Ireland, but when degree is finished, hopefully I will make a go of it over there and see how it goes," a confident Kidd said after training.

Kidd has replaced Ireland's most-capped player and club team-mate Kyle McCallan in the squad and will be vying with 17-year-old George Dockrell for a regular place in the long-term.

Coach Phil Simmons believes the two young spinners have a great chance to make the spot their own in the upcoming fixtures.

"Kyle is a big loss, but we always have young players coming through," said the former West Indies opener .

"Hopefully someone will take up the mantle and run with it. They are big shoes to fill."

The past 12 months have also seen the Irish Cricket Union apply for Test status, although Torrens insists the aim is really to get guidance from the ICC on how Ireland can progress to the next level.

"We feel we have proven that, over the last four to five years, we are the best associate nation and the next one to go up, we think, should be us," Torrens stated.

With Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan switching allegiances to England, Torrens has lost two established top-class batsman. He is keen to stem to loss of talent suffered by the Irish in recent years and sees securing a place on the future tours programme as the next step.

"If we are included, we know we will be playing tournaments against the big nations and our players can portray their game on the big scene.

"I see down the line, not too far from now, young players like Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce will hopefully not have to go to England to play on the world stage - they can manage that for their own country."

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