Cricket World Cup: Michael Holding calls for Ireland Test status

Michael Holding helped the West Indies clinch the 1979 World Cup

Former West Indies great Michael Holding says the International Cricket Council should grant Ireland Test status immediately.

Holding is fearful that other Ireland players will follow the example of Irish-born duo Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin who have switched to England.

"Ireland need to be recognised now," said Holding in the wake of Ireland's World Cup win over the West Indies.

"It's about time. Otherwise they'll keep losing cricketers."

The ICC has opened the door to Ireland achieving Test status in 2018 when the winners of the 2017 Intercontinental Cup - featuring the top non-Test sides - will play four five-days matches against the lowest-ranked Test team with the victors earning or retaining Test status.

Ireland have won four of the last five Intercontinental Cup tournaments but Holding fears this pathway will prove too slow for the Irish.

"If they (Ireland) continue to linger around the lower regions of world cricket they'll continue to lose good cricketers," added the legendary West Indies bowler.

"Morgan left Ireland to play for England because he saw brighter prospects. England are a Test playing nation and are a world-renowned team."

Following their win over the West Indies in Nelson, Holding believes Ireland will qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

The Irish will be expected to defeat the United Arab Emirates in Brisbane next Tuesday and one further victory in their games against South Africa, Zimbabwe, India and Pakistan would probably to enough to secure a last-eight berth.

"I should certainly think (they'll qualify). I think they'll beat Zimbabwe. They have an outstanding chance of going on to the quarter-finals," said Holding.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has argued Ireland should not be a "feeder nation" for England.

"I'm very sympathetic to countries like Ireland that could keep losing their best players. It's something that shouldn't happen," Ponting told BBC Sport in 2010.

"If the ICC look at that and are serious about Ireland continuing to grow and maybe one day being a Test-playing nation then they can't afford to have their better players going off at a young age."

Ed Joyce, one of Ireland's heroes in Monday's win over the West Indies, also switched allegiance from Ireland to England before going back to represent his native country.

Ireland chased 305 to beat the Windies by four wickets with 25 balls remaining in their opening Pool B match in Nelson, New Zealand.