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I e-mailed to the official website of Gloucestershire CCC asking about the contract and current position of Anthony Ireland.

That's what I got in reply :

Brendan

Many thanks for your email. Anthony is under contract with Gloucestershire until the end of the 2010 season.

Best regards

Lizzie

I think, this probably rules out the possibility of his return through the franchise cricket in Zimbabwe.

this is a shame, would of liked to see him in a franchise team

Thats too bad would have been great if he could have come back. Not to be i s'pose. I cant understand why his contract has been extended though. Yeah, he has improved his game dramatically over the past 2 seasons, including an injection of extra pace, but with the likes of Steve Kirby, Jon Lewis, Banerjee and Dawson to contend with, a place in the first XI consistantly looks douptful

He played today in the last match of the season and picked up 8-4-10-3 as Gloucestershire knocked Nottinghamshire over for 57 in 18.5 overs. Gloucestershire swatted their way to a win in just 7.3 overs giving everyone an early finish to the season.

I'm completely lost with all these overseas/kolpak/English qualified rules, i assume Anthony is playing here as a kolpak ? i don't know if that precludes him from playing in Zim while he's with Gloucestershire, the whole thing is such a mess i don't think anyone, especially the ECB, actually know, it would keep him in trim and be good for Zim cricket if he was allowed to play back home during the winter.

Can't play international cricket while on a Kolpak contract. The whole reasoning for these escapes me - not one of the EU's smarter decisions...

This sucks, Would have bin great if Ireland could have come back and played domestically. Would have been a great asset to zim cricket. Now we need to move on and concentrate on our good youg pace bowlers, Ncube Jarvis Alesni etc

Anthony Ireland would have to request to be released from his Gloucestershire contract if he wants to return to playing for Zimbabwe. This however would not necessarily be granted by Gloucester.

Kent have been in just a situation with Ryan McClaren the South African allrounder who they signed on a 3year (i think) Kolpak contract. After the first year (Oct 2008) he was selected for SA's ODIs against Bangladesh, but Kent refused to release him from his contract. I gather relations between Kent and McClaren have been somewhat strained this season. As a consequence he has been released from his contract a year early and has returned to SA in an attempt to make the national team.

However I believe that being a Kolpak player doesn't stop a player playing domestic cricket in their country (they may be classed as an overseas player!!), so Ireland should be free to sign for a franchise should he wish.

...

Wow, good find slinga. Those stumps were fairly flying back towards the keeper. Just echoes what i previously steted about an extra injection of pace. I also liked the look of his run up, it looked calm, smoth and devilishly quick. All th best to Ireland as he's an ever improving player, one we could use right now