Ireland World Cup Squad
Batsmen
William Porterfield (Captain) - 26 - Left Hand Opening Batsman
Paul Stirling - 20 - Right Hand Opening Batsman
Ed Joyce - 32 - Left Hand Opening/Top Order Batsman
Niall O'Brien - 29 - Wicket Keeper - Left Hand Middle Order Batsman
Gary Wilson - 24 - Wicket Keeper - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman
All-Rounders
Kevin O'Brien - 26 - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman - Right Arm Medium Fast Bowler
Andre Botha - 35 - Left Hand Middle Order Batsman - Right Arm Medium Bowler
Andrew White - 30 - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler
Alex Cusack - 30 - Right Arm Medium Fast Bowler - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman
John Mooney - 28 - Right Arm Medium Bowler - Right Hand Middle/Lower Order Batsman
Nigel Jones - 28 - Right Arm Medium Bowler - Right Hand Middle/Lower Order Batsman
Spin Bowlers
Albert Van der Merwe - 31 - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler
George Dockrell - 18 - Left Arm Orthodox Spin Bowler
Fast Bowlers
Trent Johnston - 36 - Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler
Boyd Rankin - 26 - Left Arm Medium Fast Bowler
For all of Bangladesh's recent achievements and improvements, it is Ireland who have truly had the steepest and most rapid ascent on the Cricket landscape. A decade ago they were nowhere compared to other Associate powerhouses like Kenya, Canada and The Netherlands. But their ignominious frustration was even greater. The openness of the World Cup even allowed far lesser teams like the U.A.E and Namibia to qualify before Ireland. Then came the success of the 2007 World Cup, as Ireland reached the Super Eights on the back of a spectacular upset win over Pakistan.
In the four year interim, Ireland have continued to climb the ODI ladder, becoming the undisputed top dog of the Associate nations and even jumping Zimbabwe for No.10 in the ICC rankings. The real challenge for Ireland at this World Cup is the toughness of their draw, and the unfamiliarity of the conditions. But based on the squad chosen Ireland's selectors know what they're doing. For starters more than half the squad is retained from 2007, which is particularly unusual for the associate nations. More importantly, the squad is perhaps more than any other, completely all-rounder filled. Ireland seem to have a similar setup to New Zealand, where the crux of their team lies around workhorse all-rounders rather than natural loads of talent. But on the subcontinent the formula could be perfect. Ireland are likely to play a team which bats down to No.9 and contains 7 or 8 legitimately decent bowlers.
The Irish must be careful not to fall into a trap with their novel ideas however. Recent form and the way the warm-up games played out suggests that Ireland will line up all-rounders down to No.9, with only the young spinner Dockrell at 10 and the lanky quick Rankin at 11 as strike bowlers. Trent Johnston potentially fits as a 3rd strike bowler but has lost most of his pace and penetration now at the age of 36 Dockrell is a key weapon, being Ireland's lead spinner, but he is 18 and should not have too much pressure on his shoulders. Playing just Dockrell and the spin of all-rounder White which is scarcely above part-time quality could potentially be an underestimation of how vital spin will be in this World Cup. Yes slow medium pace will be useful too but not as much as variety will be, and Botha, Cusack, Mooney and Jones are more or less the same thing, presenting dobbly medium pace. Ireland's brilliant Top 4, and the depth of those all-rounders will provide adequate batting strength, what the Irish need to concentrate on is not conceding 300+ totals in every game and wasting their batsman's good work. The extra front-line spin of Van Der Merwe provides that option, without sacrificing the balance of a still strong batting line-up.
Prediction
Ireland have been dealt an unlucky blow in that they are in Group B.The luck is particularly unfortunate as Ireland are currently ranked 10th above Zimbabwe, but these positions have reversed since the World Cup draw was made. If based on current rankings Ireland would be in Zimbabwe's place as the 5th team of Group A, where they would likely defeat Kenya and Canada, and would fancy themselves against their old bogey Pakistan, and a distinctly average New Zealand. But in Group B they are likely to score just the one win, and will have to fight for it over the Netherlands.
It is in the middle positions that it really becomes a group of death compared to Group A. Bangladesh and the West Indies are only a shade above Ireland, and England in current form could be gettable, so the Irish will fancy their chances of reaching the Quarter Finals, but they'd have to win two of those matches which looks a bit of a stretch (especially as the most gettable of the 3, Bangladesh, are playing in their home fortress.) Ireland should beat the Netherlands and consequently take 6th in the group.
Hosford's XI
Porterfield (C), Stirling, Joyce, N.O'Brien, K.O'Brien, White, Mooney, Johnston, Van der Merwe, Dockrell, Rankin
No comments:
Post a Comment