Member's statement: Test Cricket: Stormont

Member's statement by Mr Matthew O'Toole on 23 April 2024.

MLA

Mr Matthew O'Toole

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

23 April 2024

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Test Cricket: Stormont

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4485002

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I welcome warmly the news that we are going to have a Test cricket match at Stormont. That is wonderful news. Cricket is a sport that has a proud and really fascinating history on this island. I am from Downpatrick, where cricket has historically been played; indeed, I used to work in the bar, pulling pints, at Downpatrick Cricket Club. Before I worked there, it had hosted the famous West Indies team of the 1980s and, indeed, the South African team of the 1990s. Obviously, it is only in the last few years that Ireland has become a Test nation. The first Test match was at Lord's last summer, and there was a subsequent Test match in Dublin. However, this will be only the second Test match played in Ireland and the first played in the North. That is wonderful news, and it is something to celebrate. I congratulate Cricket Ireland and, up here, the Northern Cricket Union and the North West Cricket Union on making it happen. I believe that they have engaged with the Communities Department. I encourage that partnership to continue. Cricket is one of those sports that I wish I had played. I would have loved to learn how to spin bowl, but I did not get round to it. Maybe there is still time for me. Of course, it has many devotees in this place whom you would not automatically expect. Our former leader John Hume was an enthusiastic cricket player and supporter. Indeed, the former deputy First Minister, the late Martin McGuinness, was also a big cricket fan, which, of course, sometimes surprises people. Cricket really is an example of pluralism and diversity as it works itself on the island and in this part of the island, which is something to celebrate. It is also an example of how sport can not only exemplify plurality on this island but unite us in our diversity. We have seen that in other arenas. We have seen it with the rugby team, which was triumphant, although not quite as triumphant as we would have liked in terms of the Grand Slam, but it won the Six Nations this year. We have seen it with the soccer teams on both sides of the border, albeit they have not been as successful recently in terms of qualification. We have also seen it with the GAA, which is reaching huge new communities and places, including east Belfast, where this match will be played in the summer. Of course, some people prefer one-day cricket to Test cricket. They think that Test cricket can be grinding, attritional and difficult to watch. Some might say, "What better place for it than Stormont?". I would not say that: I would say that this will be a wonderful feast of sport. It should be part of building Belfast into a centre for sport. We will, hopefully, have the Euros at Casement Park in a few years' time. This is wonderful news. It is something to celebrate. Let us hope and keep our fingers crossed that —

— the weather is good for us. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

522 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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