Paul Nixon
Ed Joyce has made the right decision as Ireland look to progress
Ed Joyce has retired from county cricket to focus on his Ireland career and, while there may be some criticism aimed towards the 38-yearold, I think it’s a very good decision. Ed’s a guy that quietly goes about his business and has had a great career. You have to remember that Ireland are potentially just a year from making their Test match debut and Ed wants to be a part of that legacy.
He’s at an age where he is approaching the end of his career, so he needs to do what’s right for him and what his body is telling him if his main aim is to play Test cricket.
He was part of the England set-up a few years back but never pushed on to force his way into the Test team. So to be part of Ireland’s historic first Test would be huge.
There are plenty of players who do it the other way round – they retire from international cricket to focus on counties, such as Paul Collingwood who has been great for Durham since hanging up his international spikes, but Ed wants to do all he can for Ireland.
He will still be playing for provincial side Leinster, so he’s still going to be able to keep his eye in and being over in Ireland more regularly will give him so many more opportunities to further his career.
We have to remember that Joyce decided to go full-time with Ireland at the back end of last year and was only ever going to be injury cover for Sussex.
As it is, injuries to his back this summer following knee surgery in the winter have prevented him from playing for Sussex at all this season and his only cricket has been with Ireland in the ODIs.
His priority has been with the Emerald Isle for a long time.
Joyce said: “County cricket has been a huge part of my life for the last 18 years. It is with a tinge of sadness that I’ve decided not to play on for Sussex this season or beyond.”
Playing first-class cricket for 18 years is a long stretch. Joyce will be tired, mentally and physically, after a
Ireland are potentially just a year from making their Test match debut and Ed wants to be a part of that legacy. To be in that historic first Test would be huge
long and excellent career, and he will know he needs more rest now than he did when he was in his twenties, especially with the amount of cricket being played.
Burnout is a big talking point at the moment, and you’ll read elsewhere in this paper how Ben Stokes could play up to 46 games for England between now and next year’s Indian Premier League final. That shows the difference between players coming through now and the likes of Joyce.
I’m sure Stokes will play as often as he can, but Joyce can’t do that. He needs to pick and choose which games he plays in and which he doesn’t.
Of course, Stokes might play a handful of games for Durham, too. There has been a lot of criticism of the ECB this year with England players not being available for their counties, but that’s what the central contracts allow.
England are paying the wages and can largely dictate which games the players do play.
Joyce is at the opposite end of the spectrum now and can decide purely on how his body feels.
Ed’s decision will also make the transition from being a professional cricketer into normal life easier. He will have more spare time and is a big name in Ireland. He might have coaching opportunities, and he has so much to offer. Irish youngsters can delve into that extensive knowledge of his.
The game is changing with many more youth players about and teams are often lacking a wise old owl, the calm head in crucial times.
The more we can keep these veteran players going will only be beneficial. Knowledge then gets passed on and doesn’t get lost, and Ireland will find Joyce’s know-how invaluable.
I would have done anything to play for England more than I did, and players now are willing to jet off all over the world to be part of the England squad.
Joyce is doing the same. There’s nothing quite like representing your country and Ireland have a very busy summer.
They’ve already played England, Bangladesh and New Zealand, and have the West Indies to come. Then there’s the Intercontinental Cup where they are playing the Netherlands and Scotland.
They’ll want to do well in those games just as they will when they make it into the Test arena. They won’t want to be there to make up the numbers, they will want to be competitive and Ed can help them be that.