Simmons believes balance right for progress

CRICKET WORLD CUP:IRELAND COACH Phil Simmons believes an experienced and almost fully professional squad gives the country an excellent chance of making the second stages of a world competition for the third time after naming his final 15-man World Cup panel yesterday.

There were no real surprises in the selection for a competition that gets under way in the Indian sub-continent next month, with eight of the players having taken part in Ireland’s memorable 2007 campaign in the Caribbean, while there is a welcome return to the fold for batsman Ed Joyce, who played for England four years ago.

Opening bowler Boyd Rankin has proved his fitness and takes his place, while the role of second frontline spinner goes to The Hills’ Albert van der Merwe ahead of Regan West, who has not played since August 2009 after requiring operations to both of his shoulders.

The only other marginal decision sees Civil Service North all-rounder Nigel Jones get the nod ahead of Pembroke paceman Allan Eastwood.

Both West and Eastwood are joined on a four-man non-travelling reserve panel by Clontarf batsman Andrew Poynter and Sussex’s uncapped bowler Craig Young.

“I like the balance of the squad. As with most Irish teams of the past few years there are quite a few all-rounders and that gives us plenty of options in all departments,” said Simmons before going on to outline the key change from Ireland’s first World Cup experience.

“What is different this time from 2007 is that 13 of the 15 earn their living from cricket – that’s practically a full-time squad. It makes such a difference having the guys full-time.

“We were also able to spend a month in India acclimatising and that will stand us in good stead,” he added.

With seven of the players now attached to county sides and with an average of 90 caps apiece between the 15-man squad, Simmons sees no reason why a place in the knock-out stages cannot be attained.

“The squad all know the importance of this tournament and I’m certain we will acquit ourselves well. We may have lost the surprise factor, but we have earned the respect of the cricketing world through our efforts. We’ve reached the Super Eight phase of both the World Cup and the World Twenty20 and there’s no reason why we can’t make the latter stages yet again,” added Simmons.

The squad will travel to Dubai on January 28th for a training camp and will play warm-up games against New Zealand and Zimbabwe in the Indian city of Nagpur before their first game in the competition proper against Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 25th.

Ireland skipper William Porterfield believes the month-long stay in India before Christmas has heightened the anticipation amongst the squad and the new Warwickshire signing can’t wait to get back into camp.

“We’ve been waiting for this time to come around now for a while and I know the squad are just looking forward to getting out to Dubai and on to India and Bangladesh.

“There has been a lot of hard work put in over the past few weeks and months and being in India in November for the training has really helped the lads in getting to where they want to be,” said Porterfield.

Ireland Squad

IRELAND SQUAD:W Porterfield (Warwickshire, captain. Age: 26 Caps: 113), A Botha (North County, 35, 138), A Cusack (Clontarf, 30, 95), G Dockrell (Somerset, 18, 36), T Johnston (Railway Union, 36, 138), N Jones (Civil Service North, 28, 21), E Joyce (Sussex, 32, 50), J Mooney (North County, 28, 99), K O'Brien (Railway Union, 26, 136), N O'Brien (Northants, 29, 107), B Rankin (Warwickshire, 26, 47), P Stirling (Middlesex, 20, 69), A van der Merwe (The Hills, 31, 12), G Wilson (Surrey, 24, 94), A White (Instonians, 30, 186). Non-travelling reserves:A Eastwood (Pembroke, 31, 3), A Poynter (Clontarf, 23, 31), R West (Civil Service North, 31, 38), C Young (Sussex, 20, 0).

IRISH GROUP B MATCHES AND VENUES

Friday, February 25th v Bangladesh, Dhaka.

Wednesday, March 2nd v England, Bangalore.

Sunday, March 6th v India, Bangalore.

Friday, March 11th v West Indies, Mohali.

Tuesday, March 15th v South Africa, Kolkata.

Friday, March 18th v Netherlands, Kolkata.