Cricket Ireland :Tough Calls await for big Phil

Ireland coach Phil Simmons

Ireland's cricket teams summer will kick off in earnest in a little under 3 weeks in Belfast. In previous years a fixture against a full member has been seen as a once off chance to prove that Ireland deserve more regular opportunities against the top sides.
That doesn't seem to be the case this year. With matches arranged against Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and a South Africa A side likely to include leading lights like Faf du Plessis and Marchant de Lange Irelands players can rest assured that if they lose one the opportunity for redemption is just around the corner. It isn't all good news, with only one ODI (Australia 23rd June)  going towards the teams world ranking points the chance to qualify for next summers Champions Trophy in England now seems a step too far. Parking this issue for now I can't see squad depth being an issue for head coach Phil Simmons.

       In previous years a lack of players with experience at the top level has meant that at times the team almost picked itself today that isn't the case. There are currently no fewer than 11 Irish playing on the county circuit in England add to this the growing number of leading lights and youngsters at home most of whom now play cricket as a full time time career and you can understand why Simmons may be left scratching his head wondering who should be left out of his next team. Looking first at the batting side of the team the probable decision will be to have 7 capable batsmen take the field against Australia including a wicketkeeper. 3 players quite simply pick themselves on current form. These are William Porterfield, Ed Joyce & Paul Stirling. The first two have had strong starts in the county season while Stirlings form in the UAE means he is Irelands most prized asset at the moment . The next 4 places will probably be filled by a combination of Kevin O'Brien, Alex Cusack, Niall O'Brien, Gary Wilson, Andrew Balbirnie, Stuart Thompson, Andrew White and Andrew Poynter. Gary Wilson is almost certain to be picked due to consistent performances for Surreys second XI and Ireland in the recent t20 world cup qualifiers. The question mark here is whether he will have the gloves if he plays. The other player who could be given the gloves if selected is Niall O'Brien who is available for selection after his controversial omission from the squad due to the Bangladesh premier league. O'Briens form has been patchy this county season with rain and injury both playing a part. In recent weeks he has found himself part of the one day team only at Northampton and hence has been playing less cricket. The expectation is that he will be selected against Australia with or without keeping wicket provided he can score runs in one of the 2 CB40 fixtures he still has available before the Australia game. Kevin O'Briens bowling ability as much as anything else would suggest that he will keep his place. He's performed well of late too and while a move to a county one day team hasn't developed as yet he will be chomping at the bit to prove his worth in this fixture. The other pick could be any one of Cusack , Balbirnie ,White or Poynter. Indeed depending on the decision with Niall O'Brien 2 of these could conceivably be picked. Poynter and White recently started in the t20 finals in Abu Dhabi with Cusack returning home injured while Balbirnie and indeed Stuart Thompson batted excellently for Ireland A in their recent record breaking chase. Aside from these Simmons has Ben Ackland who has played  a number of first class games for Cambridge MCCU this season. My own selection if Ireland go with seven would be Balbirnie whose performance for Ireland A could be a clincher. Poor weather has meant Balbirnie hasn't played much University cricket this season but his prior record with Irelands underage teams might mean he is selected. A selection of Balbirnie, Wilson and O'Brien would also mean Ireland have three specialist fielders something which could squeeze opposition teams slightly if used correctly. Add to this the bowling options Stirling and Kevin O'Brien give to captain Porterfield and a batting line up with balance and flexiblility emerges.
The four remaining bowling positions are even more of a dogfight. The breakdown in Irish conditions is normally 3 seamers and a spinner. The assumption is that Porterfield will pick his part timers Stirling and O'Brien to bowl the 5th bowlers allotment. Taking first the spinning position George Dockrell's magnificent start to the county season including 2 six fors means that his place is guaranteed with Andrew White and Albert Van Der Merwe being the likely replacements in the event of an injury. The seamers picked largely boils down to whether Boyd Rankin is available. Currently hes expected back in action in the middle of June and is touch and go for the Australia Fixture. If he is available the choice of who should join him includes North County all rounder John Mooney, Gloucestershire and Fox Lodges sensation Graeme McCarter, former Ireland captain Trent Johnston and Middlesex s Tim Murtagh. This excludes several other prospects including Max Sorensen and Craig Young. On form McCarter and Murtagh both of whom have been among the wickets lately seem to deserve selection but Mooney and Johnston have been ever presents in Ireland teams when available and have always delivered. The solution may be to select 3 from Johnston, Mooney, Murtagh and McCarter and drop the seventh batting position where I've advocated Balbirnie. The allrounder ability of Mooney and Murtagh in particular make this a tempting option. McCarter because of the fact he has an under 19 world cup this summer seems the most vulnerable but I'd like to see him in there.  If Rankin is unavailable all four could be selected anyway.
   One thing is for sure there will be big players who won't be selected at Stormont some of whom are full time professionals. Who could have seen this 5 years ago?

Possible XI
Porterfield , Stirling, Joyce, Wilson, Niall O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, Mooney, Murtagh, Dockrell, Rankin, Johnston

In the mix: Graeme McCarter, Alex Cusack, Andrew Balbirnie, Craig Young, Ben Ackland, Max Sorensen, Andrew White, Andrew Poynter.