It is a matter of great regret for Ireland cricketer Ed Joyce that he had missed some of their most recent glories.
Joyce switched his loyalty for England and played for them in the last World Cup to fulfil his Test ambition and thereby missed the chance of becoming part of an Irish squad that reached Super Eights in Caribbean.
Joyce was still an England cricketer when Ireland shocked the world again reaching the ICC World Twenty20 second round in 2009.
On both the occasions, Bangladesh were one of Ireland‘s major victims and understandably Joyce had no contribution to them.
Being unable win a Test call from England, Joyce changed his allegiance again and obtained a special permission from the International Cricket Council to play for them in the ongoing World Cup.
The highly-rated Sussex batsman will resume his Ireland career on February 25 when they face Bangladesh in their opening game against Bangladesh.
‘I heard a lot of stories from my Ireland team-mates about those wins against Bangladesh. I have never played against them. So don’t really know the feelings. Hopefully, I will get to know that,’ Joyce told New Age in an interview on Tuesday.
Joyce is also eagerly waiting for his match against England, which will take him up against some of his former team-mates.
Joyce played for England against Ireland in the last World Cup and will do the exactly opposite this time, which will give him a unique record.
A few other cricketers such as Graeme Hick, Kepler Wesseles and Anderson Cummins played the World Cup for two countries but none of them were in the opposite line-up in two separate tournaments.
‘Some of my Sussex team-mates [Matt Prior, Michael Yardy and Luke Wright] play for England,’ he said. ‘Matt will have ample opportunity to say a few words and he usually doesn’t struggle!’
Despite his change of elegance, Joyce, however, still harbours a dream of playing Test cricket.
Ireland, the top non-Test-playing nation at the moment, have applied for the Test status and Joyce hoped they will get the opportunity in a few years.
‘Owing it to our last two or three years’ performance, we feel will get it [Test status]. We just need to perform well in the event like this,’ said Joyce, who has no regret for coming back to play for Ireland again.
‘I am obviously an Irishman and you know I made the decision to play for England in the first place to try and play at the highest level,’ he said.
‘I got close but obviously that did not happen. But coming back to play for Ireland, I have never regretted that. I am Irishman and I want to play in the green of Ireland.’
