CSN delighted to have Wilson confirm return for next season
GARY Wilson has confirmed that he will be returning to club cricket with Civil Service North next season.
After 12 years on the county circuit with Surrey and Derbyshire, Wilson is returning home to where it all began as a 13-year old in 1999, a decision the Ireland Twenty20 captain described as “very straightforward”.
CSN chairman Ivan McMinn said: “Gary’s return is another step in delivering the long-term strategy for success at the club and I am excited at the prospect of seeing him take to the field at the start of next season.”
One player who has quit international cricket is John Anderson. The Merrion batsman played 27 times for the Irish from 2012 to 2017 but, despite having an Ireland contract, did not make a single appearance this year.
After a meeting with Cricket Ireland, he announced his retirement yesterday from both international and representative cricket.
Anderson said: “It has been an honour and privilege to play for Ireland and it is one of the proudest achievements of my life.
“I am immensely proud of all my contributions to the team, especially those in the I-Cup.
“I’d like to thank those at Cricket Ireland who believed in me and gave me the chance to play international cricket.”
Kevin O’Brien, meanwhile, will take up coaching duties at NCU Section Two side Monaghan this month on his return from the Afghanistan Premier League.
O’Brien will take five half-day indoor sessions at St McCartan’s College and five further sessions ahead of the 2019 season as part of the Kevin O’Brien Cricket Academy which he launched in 2011. This is the Ireland international’s first venture into Ulster.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Sixes has been cancelled due to a lack of funding. Paul Stirling was due to captain the Ireland side, returning to the tournament for the first time since 2011.
The Sixes will be back next October as part of a week-long festival, which will include a T20 Blitz.