John Mooney (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
John Francis Mooney is an Irish
cricket
er. A left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler, Mooney made his first-class
debut in 2004. He had previously represented Ireland in the Under-19s World Cup of 2000 and has captained Ireland A. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2006 in Ireland's inaugural match in the format. In January 2010, Mooney became one of six players with full-time contracts with Cricket Ireland. He was named "Ireland Player of the Year" for 2010. His brother, Paul
, has also represented Ireland in international cricket.
in July 2004, playing an ICC Intercontinental Cup
match against Netherlands. He batted once, not scoring a run before he was lbw
to Edgar Schiferli, and did not bowl. After a gap of two years, in August 2006 Mooney played his second first-class match. Although he again went runless, he took his maiden wicket in the match, that of Scotland's John Blain
, caught by Jeremy Bray
. He represented Ireland in the EurAsia cricket series of 2006, in which Ireland finished bottom of their group with two losses from two games, and the C&G Trophy.
Ireland played their inaugural One Day International on 13 June 2006. England won the match by 38 runs, completing the victory in front of a full crowd at Stormont
. Mooney took three wickets in the match – those of Marcus Trescothick
, Paul Collingwood
, and Ian Bell – and later identified the match as one of the highlights of his career. He finished with 30 not out from 26 balls. Mooney was part of Ireland's 15-man squad that travelled to the West Indies in February 2007 to play in the country's first World Cup
. They achieved a tie against Zimbabwe and victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh, and ended the tournament ranked 10th overall in the official ICC rankings, taking many by surprise and receiving a "heroes welcome" when they returned home. Ireland were a mostly amateur outfit at the time. After the World Cup, Mooney withdrew from the team in order to complete his electrical apprenticeship.
Mooney captained Ireland A during the 2008 European Cricket Championship; the team won the competition and Mooney was named player of the tournament. Ireland participated in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
, hosted by England in July; the team progressed to the second round after beating Bangladesh. Ireland's coach, Phil Simmons
, identified Mooney as the team's stand-out player of the tournament. Over the course of the 2009 season, Mooney concentrated on his batting, later saying that he felt "bowling medium pace makes you more or less cannon fodder for the real top class player". In the 2009/10 season, Mooney travelled to Australia to play club cricket. His intention was to play a longer format of the game, in which his side batted for 92 overs, with the aim of gaining selection in Ireland's first-class side. He also stated that he wanted the opportunity to bowl long spells while in Australia in an effort to revive his form.
Mooney's maiden first-class runs scored during his maiden half-century, which came in his third first-class
match. His innings of 58 not out
came against Afghanistan in January 2010 as part of the 2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup
. In January 2011, Mooney was voted "Ireland Player of the Year" for 2010. He played in 42 of Ireland's 44 matches that year, scoring 818 runs across all formats, and took 12 wickets with his medium-pacers at an average of 30.92.
Mooney was selected in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup
. In the game against England, Mooney struck the winning runs in Ireland's historic win. With ten wickets at an average of 25.90, Mooney was Ireland's leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. A left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler, Mooney made his first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut in 2004. He had previously represented Ireland in the Under-19s World Cup of 2000 and has captained Ireland A. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2006 in Ireland's inaugural match in the format. In January 2010, Mooney became one of six players with full-time contracts with Cricket Ireland. He was named "Ireland Player of the Year" for 2010. His brother, Paul
Paul Mooney (cricketer)
Paul John Kevin Mooney is an Irish cricketer.A member of the successful North County, Mooney is a medium-pace bowler and competent lower-order batsman. He first appeared for Ireland in 1998 against Marylebone Cricket Club at Lurgan...
, has also represented Ireland in international cricket.
Cricket career
Mooney was first drafted into the Ireland team as a bowler. He made his first-class debutFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
in July 2004, playing an ICC Intercontinental Cup
ICC Intercontinental Cup
The ICC Intercontinental Cup is a cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council as part of its cricket development programme...
match against Netherlands. He batted once, not scoring a run before he was lbw
LBW
LBW or lbw may refer to:*Laser beam welding, a type of high-precision energy beam welding*Leg before wicket, one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed in the sport of cricket...
to Edgar Schiferli, and did not bowl. After a gap of two years, in August 2006 Mooney played his second first-class match. Although he again went runless, he took his maiden wicket in the match, that of Scotland's John Blain
John Blain
John Blain is a Scottish first-class cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman, and a right-arm fast-medium pace bowler....
, caught by Jeremy Bray
Jeremy Bray
Jeremy William Bray was a British Labour politician and a Member of Parliament for 31 years.Bray was educated at Kingswood School, Bath and Jesus College, Cambridge and was a Choate Fellow at Harvard University...
. He represented Ireland in the EurAsia cricket series of 2006, in which Ireland finished bottom of their group with two losses from two games, and the C&G Trophy.
Ireland played their inaugural One Day International on 13 June 2006. England won the match by 38 runs, completing the victory in front of a full crowd at Stormont
Stormont (cricket ground)
Stormont is a first-class cricket ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is situated in the grounds of the Stormont Estate, the seat of government in Northern Ireland, and is the home of Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club....
. Mooney took three wickets in the match – those of Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Edward Trescothick MBE is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals. A left-handed opening batsman, he made his first-class debut for Somerset in 1993 and quickly established...
, Paul Collingwood
Paul Collingwood
Paul David Collingwood MBE is an English cricketer. He has been a regular member of the England Test side, was captain of the One Day International team 2007–2008. He is also vice-captain of his county, Durham County Cricket Club. Collingwood is a batting all-rounder, whose batting...
, and Ian Bell – and later identified the match as one of the highlights of his career. He finished with 30 not out from 26 balls. Mooney was part of Ireland's 15-man squad that travelled to the West Indies in February 2007 to play in the country's first World Cup
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
. They achieved a tie against Zimbabwe and victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh, and ended the tournament ranked 10th overall in the official ICC rankings, taking many by surprise and receiving a "heroes welcome" when they returned home. Ireland were a mostly amateur outfit at the time. After the World Cup, Mooney withdrew from the team in order to complete his electrical apprenticeship.
Mooney captained Ireland A during the 2008 European Cricket Championship; the team won the competition and Mooney was named player of the tournament. Ireland participated in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
2009 ICC World Twenty20
The 2009 ICC World Twenty20 was an international Twenty20 cricket tournament which took place in England in June 2009. It was the second ICC World Twenty20 tournament, following the inaugural event in South Africa in September 2007...
, hosted by England in July; the team progressed to the second round after beating Bangladesh. Ireland's coach, Phil Simmons
Phil Simmons
Philip Veraint Simmons is a former skilled all-round cricketer who played as an opening batsman a useful bowler and a talented slip fielder.-Career:...
, identified Mooney as the team's stand-out player of the tournament. Over the course of the 2009 season, Mooney concentrated on his batting, later saying that he felt "bowling medium pace makes you more or less cannon fodder for the real top class player". In the 2009/10 season, Mooney travelled to Australia to play club cricket. His intention was to play a longer format of the game, in which his side batted for 92 overs, with the aim of gaining selection in Ireland's first-class side. He also stated that he wanted the opportunity to bowl long spells while in Australia in an effort to revive his form.
Full-time contract
Cricket Ireland, the governing body for cricket in Ireland, awarded Mooney a full-time contract in January 2010. He was one of six players to be awarded such contracts with Cricket Ireland, and came just a year after the first professional contracts were awarded to Ireland's cricketers. Before that players were amateurs relying on income from other jobs and playing cricket in their spare time. The contract allowed Mooney and the others to focus on cricket, with the aim of improving ahead of the 2011 World Cup.Mooney's maiden first-class runs scored during his maiden half-century, which came in his third first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
match. His innings of 58 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
came against Afghanistan in January 2010 as part of the 2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup
2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup
The 2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup is the fifth edition of the ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament, an international first-class cricket tournament between nations who have not been awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council. The first fixtures will be played in July 2009. The...
. In January 2011, Mooney was voted "Ireland Player of the Year" for 2010. He played in 42 of Ireland's 44 matches that year, scoring 818 runs across all formats, and took 12 wickets with his medium-pacers at an average of 30.92.
Mooney was selected in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
. In the game against England, Mooney struck the winning runs in Ireland's historic win. With ten wickets at an average of 25.90, Mooney was Ireland's leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
External links
- John Mooney at Cricket Archive
- Cricinfo player profile
- North County Cricket Club