IRELAND'S selectors should need no more than a couple of minutes this morning to decide on their eleven to meet Hampshire in Southampton in the first of four Benson & Hedges Cup group matches.
With Neil Doak nursing a twisted ankle, and Peter Gillespie not tested in either of two warm up games, the 14 man squad that travel led to England is already effectively reduced to 12.
The only decision to be made is whether YMCA's Angus Dunlop is brought in to open in place of Michael Rea. Wimbledon based Rea looks in scratchy form and has failed twice this week but it would surely be folly to drop a batsman who lays claim to Ireland's top score in the competition - a gutsy 73 against Sussex last year.
Doak's injury ensures that 33 year old Seamer Paul McCrum will win his first cap since the ICC Trophy in Kenya two years ago. McCrum has recently eased a long standing elbow problem and bowled with enough life and movement at Taunton on Wednesday to suggest he can extend his international career by another couple of years.
Hampshire will lean heavily on the batting of England regular Robin Smith, and are probably the most vulnerable of Ireland's four opponents, the others being Sussex, Gloucestershire and Surrey.
