CRICKET: JUST SEVEN days after the champagne corks popped after their success at the World Cup qualifier tournament in South Africa, Ireland get their domestic season under way tomorrow with Worcestershire the visitors to Stormont for their opening Friends Provident Trophy game (10.45am).
Coach Phil Simmons has certainly seen the fizz taken out of his preparations, as between county commitments and injury he can call on just nine of the squad that qualified in first place for the 2011 World Cup.
Simmons suffered a huge blow yesterday when skipper William Porterfield was forced to pull out after Gloucestershire called him up for their game against Surrey in Bristol.
The 24-year-old left-handed batsman received his call-up as cover for Craig Spearman, who has a hip injury, and if he lines out in the game it will rule him out of the rest of the Trophy campaign for Ireland.
Porterfield was the batting hero for Ireland in South Africa, scoring 515 runs at an average of 57.22, with centuries coming against Scotland and in the comprehensive, nine-wicket victory over Canada in the final.
It was also his innings of 69 that helped Ireland record their only success in this competition last year, beating Warwickshire by four wickets at tomorrow’s venue.
The news came just hours after Simmons learned that Gary Wilson had been given permission by Surrey to join the squad, and is far from ideal preparation.
With Eoin Morgan and Niall O’Brien also required by their counties and injury ruling out Trent Johnston, Andre Botha and Alex Cusack, Simmons will be looking to the strength of his squad against Worcestershire.
Andrew Poynter, John Mooney and record cap holder Kyle McCallan will all be keen to make their mark after limited game time in South Africa, while new Malahide signing Fintan McAllister may be handed the wicket-keeping duties, with Wilson being deployed in the field. McCallan will also lead the side in Porterfield’s absence.
Simmons is likely to promote Reinhardt Strydom to the opening slot alongside Wilson, while 18-year-old Paul Stirling will look to build on a promising debut season.
Worcestershire, who come into the game after a big defeat to Nottinghamshire in the County Championship yesterday, have named a strong 12-man squad for their second outing in the competition.
Graeme Hick may have hung up his bat, but the side still contains some fine players, with 21-year-old Moeen Ali already earmarked as an able replacement in the middle order.
He certainly looked the part in their opening win over Hampshire last weekend, hitting 125 off just 109 balls in their 53-run win.
Former England one-day international Vikram Solanki leads a side that also includes fine stroke-makers in Stephen Moore and wicketkeeper Steven Davies.
On the bowling front, Australian paceman Ashley Knoffke and English spinner Gareth Batty are likely to line out.
IRELAND(squad v Worcestershire, Stormont, Sunday 10.45): K McCallan (Waringstown, wkt), P Connell (North Down), P Eaglestone (Strabane), J Hall (Waringstown), F McAllister (Malahide, wkt), J Mooney (North County), K O'Brien (Railway Union), A Poynter (Clontarf), P Stirling (Carrickfergus), R Strydom (YMCA), R West (Civil Service North), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).
WORCESTERSHIRE(squad): V Solanki (capt), M Ali, G Andrew, G Batty, S Davies (wkt), I Fisher, M Mason, D Mitchell, S Moore, A Noffke, B Smith, C Whelan.
Weekend Fixtures
SATURDAY: Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup First Round (12.30): Cork County v YMCA, Mardyke; Killymallaght v Pembroke, Killymallaght Road; Old Belvedere v Woodvale, Cabra. DGM League (12.00) – Section 1: Rush v Merrion, Kenure. Section 2: The Hills v Malahide, Milverton. Section 4: Leinster v Dublin Uni, Rathmines.
SUNDAY: Friends Provident Trophy: Ireland v Worcestershire, Stormont, 10.45.
