Ireland will not be altering the way they play to counter the batting threat of South Africa's AB de Villiers in Tuesday's Pool B clash in Canberra, captain William Porterfield said on Monday.
De Villiers confirmed his rich vein of form with a devastating 162 from 66 balls against West Indies on Friday, backing up his record 31-ball century against the same opponents in Johannesburg last month. The South Africa captain might be imagined to be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Ireland's less lively attack on a Manuka Oval track where Chris Gayle smashed 215 for West Indies last week.
“It’s no fluke what he’s done. He’s done it a couple of times now over the last six to eight weeks,” Porterfield said. “[BUT] you don’t have to reinvent the wheel or change how you play against one player. He obviously has a special talent but you’ve been doing something yourself.
“Each bowler has got their own skills. They’ve done it over a number of years. They’ve got to back themselves and back the field that’s been set and how well they want to get hit and if he hits that over their heads or down their throats, then so be it.”
Ireland, who have started their campaign with wins over West Indies and United Arab Emirates, still boast the scorer of the fastest World Cup century in Kevin O'Brien, whose 50-ball ton against England in 2011 set up a famous upset. "Look, if Kev can go out and repeat what he's done in the past as well then we've got that bit of X-factor ourselves," Porterfield added. "It's obviously great to see in the world game. That's what people want to see."
Porterfield has become something of spokesman for the campaign to prevent the World Cup field being cut from 14 to 10 teams in 2019, so depriving “associate member” nations of their chance to compete alongside the top tier cricketing countries.
The Irish captain welcomed the support of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and India skipper MS Dhoni but said the best way for the so-called minnows to press their case was on the field of play. "There have been a lot of influential people that have come out and spoken from the world of cricket," he said. "But we've got to go out there and plan the performances on the pitch and keep making statements out there, because ultimately that's what it boils down to."
Any element of mystery that Ireland might still retain against the full-member nations will be all but cancelled out when they meet South Africa.
The former Ireland coach, Adrian Birrell, who is now an assistant with South Africa, will help provide the inside information for their first meeting since the last World Cup. South Africa coasted to a 131-run victory on that day but Birrell knows that Ireland have traded off more fancied teams underestimating them as they have made a habit of pulling off World Cup giant-killings.
Birrell coached Ireland for five years from 2002 and he believes that their World Cup record should surprise no one given the developments they have made over the past decade.
“They have a strong culture and play an attractive brand of cricket,” he said. “They have a number of good players and since probably 2005 a lot of their players are county players playing cricket full-time, they are playing professionally.
“In every World Cup they seem to beat a full-member team. They did that in 2007 when they beat Pakistan and Bangladesh and tied with Zimbabwe. There is the famous win at the 2011 World Cup against England and they have already beaten the West Indies here, it’s very realistic. We are taking them seriously, they are a good team.”
Birrell pointed to Ireland’s batting as their strength, especially their ability to chase after they ran down scores of 304 and 278 to beat West Indies and the United Arab Emirates respectively at this tournament. “They bat long and deep,” he said. “They know how to chase targets; four out of the top 10 World Cup chases are Ireland chases, three of them over 300 and two against full members.”
That record is now four of 11, following Sri Lanka’s winning total of 312 for one against England on Sunday, but Birrell added: “We are fully aware of what they can do, I am probably more aware than most. We will be prepared come Tuesday.”
Ireland are one of only three unbeaten teams at the World Cup – alongside India and New Zealand – but will be underdogs against South Africa after they pulverised the West Indies by 257 runs last time out on the back of AB de Villiers’ supreme unbeaten 162 from 66 balls. However, South Africa do have a couple of injury concerns with JP Duminy and Vernon Philander both doubtful after they missed the match last Friday.
