Three wise men with a gift of cricket drive into Dublin this weekend for the "Ireland Cricket Roadshow". The initiative is one of the most ambitious parts of the International Cricket Council's European Development Programme.

Dublin is hosting an array of cricketing superstars and staging some imaginative events. Former England captain and batsmen Mike Gatting, and Ex-England opening bowlers Neil Foster and Neil Mallender are in the city for a long weekend of cricketing festivities.

All of Irelands ever-expanding cricket community will benefit from the visit. The women's squad will be put through their paces by Gatting. The Irish Women's team are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with following their victory over the Emerging England Team last summer.

The youth teams also reached new highs last season, and they'll be stretched by Foster who is hoping to improve and inspire the local youngsters. Neil Mallender is now a first class and one-day international umpire, and will use this experience to help the countries officials as well as using his fast bowling credentials to help the players.

The senior squad who have qualified to play Nottinghamshire in the third round of the the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Clontarf on May 29th will get some very useful preseason workouts. Pearls of wisdom from some of Englands finest should be the perfect preparation.

For Irish cricketers it's Christmas come early....just follow the star.