David beating Goliath should give ICC food for thought about ten-team line up in 2015

Although the English were below par at the end of their innings and in the field the Irish thoroughly deserved their win on cricket's biggest stage, with O'Brien playing the innings of this or any World Cup.

No one gave the Irish a chance as they subsided to 111 for 5, still a massive 216 runs from victory but O'Brien and Cusack totally dominated the English bowling, their partnership of 162 in just 103 balls making England look a vastly-inferior side. When the pressure was on Andrew Strauss and his side they were found wanting in the field. Ireland looked the more composed and assured team and eventually ran out comfortable winners, in the process making the highest score ever to win a World Cup match.

The win will also have ramifications wider than just one game of cricket. After some huge defeats inflicted on their fellow Associate nations, Ireland have dealt a blow to the ICC hierarchy intent on limiting participation in future competitions to just ten sides. Ireland are, without doubt, the best current team below the Full Members and, on their day, are a competitive side against any nation. They have showed this in recent close losses to both Australia and England. Yesterday's result, when added to their 2010 wins against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe show what can be achieved by the developing nations. David against Goliath clashes and the shocks these cause make World Cups and yesterday's result will not only capture headlines around the world, it should also make the power brokers of world cricket sit up and take notice.

Ireland or any Associate country may not be able to compete in every game against the major nations but given the right occasion and pieces of individual brilliance anything is possible. Developing countries must have something to aspire to and goals to achieve. The positive messages and actions of Ireland are, sadly, in contrast to Canada and Kenya who have been shown to be clearly out of their depth.

There is, however, a strong case that the top four Associate sides are not competing in this World Cup. Two years ago, when the qualification event took place, Scotland had a very poor tournament and Afghanistan had just started their path up the performance ladder. At last year's world cricket league division one event Scotland finished second and Afghanistan third, both behind the Irish. Last year's Intercontinental Cup final was played between Afghanistan and Scotland. There is no doubt that in 2011 both these countries are stronger than their Canadian and Kenyan counterparts.Two years is a long time in the development of performance in teams and the length of time between the qualification event and the World Cup has not helped the standing of Associate cricket.

Although the decision to limit the 2015 edition to ten sides is cast in stone, it must be accepted by the ICC that it will be the ten best sides that compete, not just the current Full Members of the ICC. Places in major competitions need to be earned by actions on the field not be decisions brokered in boardrooms. Teams' performances are never consistent over a long period of time.England may have won two Ashes series and the T20 World Cup in the last few years, but they have also lost to Ireland, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, and been bowled out for just 51 by the West Indies. It is impossible to predict now who will be in the top ten ODI countries come early 2015. There is very little between the likes of New Zealand, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the Irish. Afghanistan are an improving force and the Scots have shown recent improvement to challenge to be one of the top two or three Associate sides. All these countries should have to fight for a place in 2015. The brave Irish showed exactly why.