I've mentioned this before in my column. Bangledesh's promotion to Test staus was as much about providing more clout for India in the ICC than the development of a cricket nation. Does it matter? I'm delighted to see the game developing around the world.

For the Asian countries, Zimbabwe are now completely house trained. As long as India confirms they will receive the cash they will vote exactly as they are told to do so. The ECB need to recognise that Ireland can provide a vote and some balance. If the ECB won't play ball then Ireland need to go to India and do a Zimbabwe.

Ireland have achieved way more than Bangledesh did and have a much more deserving case. However when I read the article 'Door not closed on Test Status' I found it seriously depressing. For me, Richard Done could not have made it any clearer that the door is firmly locked and bolted.

The only reason Ireland want Test Status is because of access to ICC resources. At this point in time we don't want Test status or need Test status, nor are we anywhere near ready for it. What we need is permanent status as a ODI side with aspirations to be a future Test nation.

The integrity of Test cricket needs to be protected and the truth is that Zimbabwe and Bangledesh are a country mile from being a proper Test team. Capital funding and regular fixtures with top international teams have helped them improve significantly but they are still off the pace. But the improvement is noticeable. Or at least it is with Bangledesh.

The difficulty for Zimbabwe is that political upheaval and the withdrawal of competitive fixtures have shown just how quickly a developing nation can go backwards. Zimbabwe still are being given the cash but they have no-one to play.

So the two go hand in hand. ICC capital can provide countries like Ireland, Namibia and Kenya an opportunity to develop as competitive ODI nations, thus allowing the game to develop globally in stages. The top Associates can then have time to grow within a proper infrastructure in their own countries. Only then having provided consistent ODI performances and developed the games appeal within our own borders that Ireland or Namibia or Kenya for that matter can start ticking all the boxes demanded of us for Test cricket.

The top Associates should be undertaking tours to play first class fixtures against other state or county teams and playing regular ODIs. Only when they feel ready should they apply for Test status. In the meantime they should continue playing in a revamped ICC Intercontinental Cup. Cricket Ireland should be heavily subsidised by the ICC and given strong practical support to develop a strong level of self sufficiency.

The conditions laid down by Mr Done are ludicrous. Imagine you wanted to become a surgeon. What he is saying is you need to start operating on patients and pay for your own theatre, operating equipment and nursing staff. Once you reach the stage where your patients aren't dying on a regular basis you then should advertise your practise so that more people start coming to you for surgery and paying you enough so you are completely self sufficient. Once you reach that stage where you are completely competent and financially sound we will give you a large amount of money you no longer need so you can go and do your training and get some qualifications.

The ICC have shown real vision to take the next tier of cricket nations up a level and have made them more competitive. To take them to the next level they need to rethink where they go from here. The top Associate nations can go no further on a shoestring budget. Ireland have done everything that has been asked of them and now there are further and intangible hurdles to overcome. The ICC have the money and the resources to spread the game around the world and the the ball is not in Ireland's court anymore but the ICC's. Do you really want to expand the boundaries of cricket or is it just lip service? Do you want to invest in the future for cricket or do you want to hoard all the money for yourselves? In business you try to grow your company or you die. So ICC, which is it?