Simmons keeps faith with World Twenty20 side for Sri Lanka ODI games

Ireland coach Phil Simmons has kept to the players that took part in the recent World Twenty20 in his 13-strong squad to take on Sri Lanka in the RSA Insurance ODI series games at Castle Avenue on May 6th and 8th.

Ireland suffered a shock defeat to the Netherlands and lost out on a place in the Super 10s stage of that tournament in Bangladesh, where Sri Lanka beat India in the final.

Ed Joyce is in line to face Sri Lanka for just the second time in a one-day international after making his last appearance for England against them at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

The 35-year-old from Bray, who has scored three first-class centuries for Sussex in a fine seasonal start, believes that Ireland have a great chance to score a first home ODI success over a Full Member in Clontarf.

IRELAND (Squad for RSA Insurance ODI series games against Sri Lanka at Castle Avenue on May 6th and 8th): William Porterfield (Warwickshire, capt), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Leicestershire), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey).