Cricket News: Porterfield, Wilson and O'Brien back to Ireland side for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 trip
William Porterfield, Gary Wilson and Niall O’Brien have returned to the Ireland side for their upcoming trip of Zimbabwe after missing the tour to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wilson-c98046 have both been released from their county tasks.
Ireland’s 14-man squad will leave for Zimbabwe this week to contest an Intercontinental Cup tie against Zimbabwe XI that kicks off on 20th September 2010. Porterfield will be leading the squad. The Intercontinental Cup tie would also be followed by three ODIs against the Zimbabwe national side.
The trio’s inclusion would strengthen the Irish side which is without its senior pacer Boyd Rankin and middle-order all-rounder Alex Cusack, both left behind owing to their injuries. Recurrence of foot injury ruled Rankin out while Cusack is convalescing from surgery of his leg muscles. Both the injured cricketers are hopeful for a comeback by the end of this year.
At present, the Ireland team is languishing in the midst of the Intercontinental Cup table, 25 points behind the leaders, Afghanistan. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 still has got a chance of competing for the title.
Simmons termed the Zimbabwean tour crucial as his team is currently ranked 10 above Zimbabwe and Ireland not only wants to maintain this ranking but is also planning to beat the Bengali tigers in order to proceed further on the ranking’s list. He added that they haven’t given up hopes of qualifying for the International Cup final and a full point’s victory against Zimbabwe would keep the Irish team in with a chance so he has asked his players to do their utmost.
The Irish coach had a message for his fringe players: "The World Cup is now only five months away, and for the fringe players these fixtures represent a mammoth opportunity to convince me and the selectors that they should be on the plane to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. I hope that they take their chance and make a name for themselves. I have most of the squad in my mind, but there are still a few places up for the grabs", Phil Simmons said.
Meanwhile, Trent Johnston has ascended to the 20th place in the ODI bowling rankings which were recently announced by the International Cricket Council. Johnston’s ranking is good news for Ireland as he has climbed to the highest ranking of any associate bowler. On the other hand, Paul Stirling, after his heroic 177 during Ireland's one-day victory against Canada earlier this month, stands at no. 37 in the batting rankings of ICC.
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