FANS heading north of Dublin to watch The Boys in Green attempting to level their KPC Group ODI series against Sri Lanka at Malahide will be guaranteed at least one top quality performance - from the pitch and outfield at Ireland's new Home of Cricket.

Groundsman Phil Frost's work earned justified plaudits on Thursday as Sri Lanka eased to a 76-run victory in the first of the two-match series on a true pitch that offered something to both batsmen and bowlers - and a fast outfield - despite the recent downpours.

More world-class facilities are planned for the Fingal outpost, including a EUR4.5million pavilion building, housing dressing rooms, hospitality and media boxes and Cricket Ireland offices, as the centre piece of a 3,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium.

Richard Holdsworth, the Cricket Ireland Performance Director, believes the ground could be transformed by the end of the decade and ready to stage Test matches as well as ODIs and regular international T20 fixtures without the costly erection of temporary stands.

"It won't happen overnight but we're moving in the right direction," he said. "Fingal council have been fantastic with their support and our Academy sponsors, Shapoorji Pallonji, have had their architects working on the design.

"We are very conscious of meeting the needs of the Malahide residents - as well as the cricket club itself - and we want to build something that is aesthetically pleasing, as well as functional."

The two recent ODIs against England have drawn crowds of around 10,000 and delivered a EUR1 million boost to the local economy, selling out hotels and restaurants, but putting up temporary stands, marquees and laying on services costs CI in the region of EUR300,000 each game.

"There are clear economic gains from having permanent facilities," Holdsworth said. "It's probably unrealistic to think we will get all the funding and approvals in place this year but I'm hopeful we will be able to start digging at the end of the 2017 season."