Dermot Monteith has served Irish cricket well. As one of this island's greatest-ever players, as captain, as a national selector and last year as president of the Irish Cricket Union, his contribution has been immense.

Now Monteith, with an eye on qualification from next year's ICC Trophy tournament in Toronto and a place in the 2003 World Cup (as well as the eventual attainment of one-day international status), is advocating Ireland's official participation in a novel scheme operated each year by Holland's national coach, Emerson Trotman.

Few casual observers would identify Holland as a leading cricket nation. "I would say that there are fewer cricketers in Holland than there are in Ireland," says Monteith. "But I think that they may be sneaking ahead of us in terms of world esteem."

Trotman's initiative may be helping to boost the image of Dutch cricket where it most counts - in South Africa, in the presence of Dr Ali Bacher, an influential figure where one-day international status is concerned. Trotman takes eight young players aged between 16 and 23 to spend January, February and March in Cape Town and the initiative, says Monteith, is grooming a couple of new players each year for the Dutch national squad.

"The players Trotman brings out are not fixed up with any clubs. A few local players are brought in, they play two matches a week against local opposition, and they practise. Perhaps the fact that it's done under the nose of Ali Bacher is a factor, but overall the scheme is a very useful one," says Monteith.

When Ireland were in Zimbabwe last April, playing in the Emerging Nations Tournament, Monteith and his Irish Cricket Union colleagues met Trotman and learned about his scheme. Now, instead of having to recruit local South African players to make up the numbers, Trotman has given Ireland the opportunity to send three or four people to join the Dutch squad in Cape Town each year.

"I see no reason why the Irish Cricket Union could not follow that example and take up Trotman's offer," says Monteith.

"We are seeded second for the ICC Trophy in Toronto," he adds. "But I do believe that in world cricket terms we would find ourselves actually ranked below Holland because of the various initiatives which they are taking - you have to be alive to these matters." Ireland must qualify in Toronto, he says. "If we don't, much of the drive and aggression in Irish cricket would dissipate, and we can't afford to let that happen." Amen to that view.

Meanwhile, I am glad to have been informed that Mark Waugh will do more than play for Ireland against Zimbabwe next week. During his Irish stay, he will coach various under-age squads at various levels in Leinster, Munster and in the two Northern Unions.