Johnston expects further shocks

Cricket:   Ireland captain Trent Johnston reckons being dubbed part-time pushovers will give his team extra motivation to inflict…

Cricket:  Ireland captain Trent Johnston reckons being dubbed part-time pushovers will give his team extra motivation to inflict another World Cup shock, this time on England.

Michael Vaughan's men are Ireland's first Super Eight opponents at the Providence Stadium tomorrow, and having defeated Pakistan to progress to the second stage of the Caribbean competition, the collection of teachers, salesmen and delivery men are hoping for further complacency.

"The bigger nations probably did, when the Super Eight were decided, bank on two points against Ireland," said Johnston.

"That is the sort of thought process we are happy for them to have going into games. Perhaps they will be lackadaisical in their preparation or rest a player - that is the incentive we need to go out there and perform well.

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"We were told we didn't deserve to be in the competition when it first started, now they are saying we don't deserve to be in the Super Eight. It has added fuel to the fire. "But we had to win one and tie one to get here, we did it and we are living the dream."

Johnston admits Ireland go into the game against England with expectations of being as competitive as they were in a meeting between the sides last summer rather than to win.

They lost their inaugural one-day international in Belfast by 38 runs to an England side missing Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.

"We want to face the best in world cricket, that is what the Super Eight is about," said Johnston.

"That is why we are over here, to get that experience and hopefully we do face the best team England can put out because that will be a sign of respect for us. We want to get in there and see how good we are.

"The only thing I can ask of the guys when we go out there is to enjoy ourselves, we are playing against the best countries in the world, there is enough pressure on us as it is.

"If we go out there and do our three disciplines to the best of our ability that is all I can ask. If that is good enough and we are short, at least we can say we have given our all.

"We get in there, have a good old fight and see what happens at the end of the day. You can't think that you are bowling to people like Kevin Pietersen because you get the 'rabbits in headlights' sort of effect.

"We will play our own game, stick to our own game plans, the guys are pretty level-headed for the experience of cricket we have had."

Regardless of the result in Guyana, Ireland will have at least five more games out in the Caribbean before returning home.

All but county professionals Niall O'Brien, Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin will return to their nine-to-five routines, having been granted extended leave to complete their fairytale trips.

"The bosses have been outstanding, there are 12 of us that are amateur cricketers in the squad of 15," said Johnston. There will be roll-on effects for our employers when we get back with the profile of the game being taken to a new level in Ireland.

"I don't think there was anyone who had any issues with the extra four weeks off. It is pleasing to be employed by people with such understanding natures, this is huge for us and great for Irish cricket."

Johnston missed the final group game against West Indies with a shoulder injury but has bowled in the nets to no obvious discomfort, as has David Langford-Smith (back spasms) and both are set to play.

The 29-year-old had been struggling with a virus that forced him into a restricted role in practice. But Flintoff returned to action today and took a full part in practice.

"Freddie is fine," confirmed captain Michael Vaughan. "He had a slight virus the other day but he's come through and played a full part in practice today, so he's fit and firing going into tomorrow's game."

England must win if they are to stand a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals - particularly after failing to take any points through from the group stages to the Super Eights.

"We feel we desperately need the two points to get our Super Eight campaign started and get those points on the board," admitted Vaughan.

"We didn't bring any points through with us from the group stages so we know it's a huge game for us to start the Super Eights with a win and try and get closer to some of the teams with more points than us.

"We will respect the Irish.

"They deserve to be in the Super Eights because they played good cricket - we've prepared in the same fashion as we would have done had we been playing any team.

"It's important you get points on the board early and we feel it's a good opportunity for us to do that before we move onto Antigua and play Sri Lanka next week."

• Andrew Flintoff has been passed fit to take his place in England's line-up.