Ireland will face a Minor Counties team, Northumberland, in the 1999 NatWest Trophy first-round away match on Tuesday, May 4th. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a new format which will feature recreational teams from the first-class counties for the first time in the competition, in which Denmark and Huntingdonshire will be making their debuts. Sixty teams will compete in the revamped campaign - the 18 first-class counties, recreational teams from ECB's 38 counties, as well as Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Denmark. The final will be staged at Lord's on Saturday, August 28th, a week earlier than in previous seasons.

Should Ireland defeat Northumberland, they will be at home to Essex in the second round on Wednesday, May 19th. And success against Essex would give Ireland another home match in round three, against Lancashire on Wednesday, June 23rd.