Ireland announces their preliminary 2011 World Cup squad
Cricket Ireland announced a 22-man preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup, scheduled to begin from February 19th.
There were no surprises in Ireland’s squad as the selection panel picked up a more experienced squad for the coveted title to be held in the sub-continent.
Ed Joyce headlines the squad who is the most experienced player, having played for both the English and Irish national cricket squads. Joyce was granted a special “dispensation” from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in November to participate in the
2011 World Cup.
The Irish player, who was featured in the 2007 World Cup of England, will be representing his birth country for the first time in the World Cup. He had a lacklustre time in the 2007 World Cup when he faced the top cricket nations as he was bowled out for
a duck against New Zealand. However, he scored half centuries against Kenya and Canada.
Joyce made the decision to play for Ireland in 2001 in order to play for Test cricket as Ireland had not gained the Test status by the ICC. He has been playing county cricket and currently is attached to a three-year contract with Sussex.
The Irish preliminary squad will be captained by Will Porterfield who had appointed to the job at the start of 2008 season as he succeeded Trent Johnston. Porterfield was the obvious successor as he had a successful stint at the 2007 World Cup where he was
honoured the man of the match against minnows Bangladesh during a qualifying round that Ireland won. He was also in form when he scored his maiden first-class century in the same year to win the 2007/08 ICC Intercontinental Cup. Porterfield also won the Associate
and Affiliate Player of the Year in 2009.
Porterfield is also one of the seven experienced players featuring in the 2011 World Cup preliminary squad who are attached to English counties. The captain is also one of the eight players in the preliminary squad that has played the limited over 2007 World
Cup in the Caribbean.
Irish coach Phil Simmons said that there are no surprises in Ireland’s line up for the 2011 World Cup as they have a “fairly settled squad” from past year.
Simmons also conceded that the players underwent a training camp in India where the players adapted to the subcontinent conditions fantastically. India is one of the hosts that will be co-hosting the biggest cricket event along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
“There’s a lot of experience in the squad, but that’s balanced by the fact we’ve got a few exciting youngsters as well,” Simmons announced.
Simmons was hinting towards George Dockrell. The 18-year-old spindly left-arm spinner will be the key towards Ireland’s bid for the World Cup berth as he has had an impressive year when he proved himself valuable during the Twenty20 World Cup in February.
Dockrell is currently tied up in a two-year contract with Somerset County Cricket Club. He currently has an average of 26.60 in One-Day internationals and would be vital for Ireland’s World Cup campaign.
However, left arm spinner Regan West is still in the dark over his inclusion in the final World Cup squad as he is suffering from a shoulder injury along with fast bowler Boyd Rankin who has been ruled out of the Irish training camp since January this year.
Rankin has been suffering from a foot injury which flared up in the start of the season and even after a small stint of recovery, he has been ruled out of the training session.
Both the players will be undergoing a final fitness test before the squad is trimmed down to a 15 man final team that is to be announced by January 19th, 2011.
Ireland will be heading off to Dubai where they will be preparing for the World Cup during a training camp. Cricket Ireland has also scheduled warm up matches against New Zealand and Zimbabwe in India ahead of their first World Cup match on February 25th
against Bangladesh.
Ireland’s preliminary squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andre Botha, Boyd Rankin, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, James Hall, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, Ed Joyce, Rory McCann, John Mooney, Phil Eaglestone, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien,
Andrew Poynter, , Paul Stirling, Albert van der Merwe, Allan Eastwood, Regan West, Craig Young, Gary Wilson, Andrew White
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