To help people cope (mostly by getting them to start arguments) I’ve put together a squad ladder ahead of the T20 World Cup.
At this point we don’t know whether the tournament will be going ahead in October, but this is how I see the 15-man squad shaping up if it does.
This list isn’t my personal choice, just how I think they selectors are shaping the squad.
- Paul Stirling — Ireland’s only world class player in T20Is and surely the first name on the teamsheet. His partnerships with Kevin O’Brien at the top of the order have been vital…
Standing at the top of his run-up in early May, about to open the bowling against England on a bitter day in Malahide, Mark Adair must have considered himself a fortunate man.
Up to that point, 2019 hadn’t been a great year with the ball for him. On the Ireland Wolves tour of Sri Lanka in January he’d taken just 5 wickets across 6 matches at an average close to 70. Then in late April he took part in the Inter-Provincial Cup tour to La Manga, taking 3–29 and 1–65 in the Spanish sun.
“He looked a bits and pieces…
Old heads could prove crucial for Ireland as a youthful, energetic team take to field on Friday morning bidding to qualify for their first major tournament since 2015.
The World T20 Qualifier, being held in the UAE for the fourth time, will feature 14 teams from across five continents all vying for six places in next year’s tournament.
As the only Test nation in the competition Ireland will be expected to qualify comfortably, but there’ll be some tough tests along the way. …
Wilson An Issue As Ireland Build To T20 Qualifiers
Cricket Ireland must have begun to think they were cursed.
After the devastating loss of the Euro T20 Slam due to what could best be described as ‘cash-flow issues’, followed by one of the wettest Augusts on record, they must have started to doubt whether their men’s team could get any preparation for the World T20 Qualifier.
Putting together a last minute tri-series with Scotland and the Netherlands — fellow victims of what we’ll dub “Slam Shenanigans” — was a sticking plaster for players and administrators. …
Irish Cricket
Dispatches from the Emerald Isle’s cricket scene — Created by Gary Murphy
