Cricket:Cricket Ireland have confirmed that next summer's One Day International clash against reigning world champions Australia will take place at Castle Avenue in Clontarf on Thursday June 17th.
The venue is no stranger to hosting high-profile games, with West Indies playing Bangladesh during the 1999 World Cup. South Africa and the West Indies have also played Ireland at the picturesque venue in recent years.
Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom is anticipating another exciting clash.
“Following the huge success of the RSA Challenge one-day international at Stormont between Ireland and England, when we came to so close to overcoming the Ashes winners, we are delighted to welcome England’s Ashes opponents, Australia, to Dublin next June.”
“Not only do we believe that this match will continue to raise the growing profile of Irish Cricket, but we also believe that the Irish players will have confidence in their ability to properly challenge one of the world’s great cricket teams.”
Ireland's most recent clash with Australia came in the nine-wicket loss in Barbados during the Super Eight phase of the 2007 World Cup.
On Irish soil, they were Ireland's opponents during the last international game at Ormeau in 2001, while Eglinton were the hosts in 1997 when present Australian captain Ricky Ponting made an undefeated 117.
You have to go back 16 years to 1993 to find the last time they played in Dublin. On that occasion centuries from Matthew Hayden and Allan Border helped the tourists to a resounding 272-run win.