Rank underdogs they may be on paper, but Ireland’s cricketers have consistently punched above their weight in recent times and, with the added drive of having a Test-status appeal under scrutiny, will prove a handful.
In 2007 they ousted Pakistan from the World Cup, bested Bangladesh and hauled an improbable win against Zimbabwe. Last year they gave Sri Lanka’s polished Twenty20 outfit their biggest scare of the group stages and overwhelmed Bangladesh. Their opponents in the group here, West Indies and England, are by no means safe.
William Porterfield, a compact left-handed opener, leads an Irish squad that includes the stingy medium-pacer Andre Botha, the hulking Boyd Rankin and the sharp Peter Connell. Trent Johnston and Alex Cusack combine straight accuracy with hard-hitting ability, while Niall O’Brien’s gritty top-order batting fits in neatly with his vocals behind the stumps.
The other O’Brien, Kevin, is a powerful hitter and a capable medium-pacer, while teenager left-arm spinner George Dockrell will participate in his first major tournament. Another promising youngster is 19-year-old Paul Stirling, a sweet-hitting batsman who’s done well . Andrew White and Gary Kidd will hope to exploit the turning pitches expected, while Nigel Jones, Paul Mooney and Gary Wilson will all hope to make an impact.
Group: D, Guyana, V England and West Indies
Watch out for: Boyd Rankin, a towering dairy farmer, has troubled experienced players with steepling bounce off a six-foot-seven frame. He’s not express, but has enough pace to send the ball thudding into the keeper’s gloves even on flat tracks.
