College Park in Dublin looked a picture on Tuesday morning as the last day of April saw students and tourists throng Trinity College on a picture-perfect day.

In the pavilion of Dublin University Cricket Club, the buzz was all about the season just under way and in particular the return of Inter-Provincial cricket to the summer schedule.

The last incarnation fizzled out in July 2004, when a North Leinster side containing the likes of Trent Johnston, John Mooney and Alex Cusack claimed the title with some ease from the NCU.

And if absence makes the heart grow fonder, last Tuesday’s launch of the RSA Insurance-sponsored event was certainly full of positivity for the new competition that will see Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights and North West Warriors compete in three-day, one-day and Twenty20 formats throughout the summer.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons is confident that the games will provide him with players coming through to the senior ranks, especially if a degree of edge enters the contests as they become part and parcel of the summer schedule.

Simmons pointed out that West Indies were at their strongest when island cricket was strong and that a highly-competitive competition can help carve out better cricketers. "I keep trying to explain to people, it's not a competition to please me, it's a competition for your province to win, like it was 10 or 15 years ago. We want that kind of rivalry back into it," stated Simmons.

Coming to games
"If you have that kind of edge in these games, then the guys coming up to the national squad are going to have that edge too. And once you get that edge, you are going to get more people coming to games, because the North West are going to want their team to win and the same with NCU and Leinster. So you're going to get more people coming and supporting their team."

Simmons is of the belief that the club game will also benefit from the inter-provincials, with selectors keeping a keen eye on performances throughout the three regions.

"We need to make club cricket stronger too for the province to get players," admitted Simmons. "The club is very important, the Irish Senior Cup is very important, so as long as everything is getting equal attention, then we are going to get more players."

Player resources
Leinster certainly look to have the edge when it comes to player resources with the 12-man squad named for next Monday's opening one-day clash against the Northern Knights containing nine senior and two A internationals. Former Ireland all-rounder Nigel Jones is one of six internationals in the Northern Knights squad and believes the side, to be captained by Andrew White, will prove very competitive in all three formats.

“I think we have as good a chance as any team in the competition to do well and I still think it will come down to two or three individuals having a great game at any given time,” said Jones.

The kind of performances, that will perhaps attract the interest of the senior coach in a year where Ireland will be looking to seal qualification for both the 2015 World Cup and the World Twenty20 .

“I’m looking forward to seeing which guys put their hand up and say ‘look I want to go to the next level’,” stated Simmons.

It's all to play for then, let's just hope the weather comes along for the ride this summer.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: RSA Leinster League (12.30pm) – Division One: Leinster v Pembroke, Rathmines; Phoenix v Railway Union, Phoenix Park; The Hills v Merrion, Milverton; YMCA v North County, Claremont Road. Division Two: Balbriggan v Leinster 2nds, Balbriggan; Clontarf v Rush, Castle Avenue, Dublin University v Terenure, College Park; Merrion 2nds v Malahide, Anglesea Road.
Monday: RSA Inter-Provincial Cup: Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights, Milverton, 10.45am.