CRICKET: There were no surprises in the Ireland squad of 15 announced today for the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.
The return of Eoin Morgan, currently on tour with England Lions in New Zealand, at the expense of Strabane bowler Phil Eaglestone is the only change from the squad which won the Intercontinental Cup in last November.
Ten of the squad played for Ireland in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
Coach Phil Simmons said: “The players have all worked hard and they all know what it means to play on the world stage.
“They’ve had a taste of it and they want to embrace it again. It’s also good to have a few newer faces like Regan West and Peter Connell coming in to keep it fresh and add something new.
“With so much at stake in terms of qualification, and the associated financial rewards, there’s bound to be a lot of pressure games, and I think the squad that’s been selected is better placed than most to handle it.
“They’ve been in a lot of tough games over the years and acquitted themselves superbly. There’s a good balance to the squad and having so many quality all-rounders gives us lots of options.”
Ireland are drawn in Group A, along with Scotland, Canada, Namibia, Oman and Uganda.
Ireland squad: W Porterfield (Gloucestershire), A Botha (North County), P Connell (North Down), A Cusack (Clontarf), T Johnston (Railway Union), K McCallan (Waringstown), J Mooney (North County), E Morgan (Middlesex), K O'Brien (Railway Union), N O'Brien (Northants), A Poynter (Clontarf), B Rankin (Warwickshire), R West (CSNI), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey)
Reserves: P Eaglestone (Strabane), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County)