Cricket Ireland Announce 21-Member Squad For England Series; Two Uncapped Players Included

Cricket Ireland has named a 21-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against England that includes two uncapped players. On Thursday, the ECB announced for England, their respective party, who will train behind closed doors for the limited-overs leg. The first of the three ODIs for Ireland against the number one team in the format kicks off on the 30th of July in Southampton.

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South African born Curtis Campher has received a call-up for to the national team for the first time after having bagged an emerging players’ contract. Curtis also represented Ireland A against Namibia this February. The second new face in the squad is leggie Jonathan Garth, whose sister Kim, quit Irish cricket and joined Cricket Victoria the previous month.

Andrew White, who is the chief of selectors, stated that it feels glad to be able to meet to pick the squad for international cricket. He is looking forward to the upcoming series, which is slated to be a high-profile one, according to White and is relieved that international matches would take place for them this year.

“The selectors were delighted to have been able to meet once more to select a squad for international action. We have lost so much cricket this year, so to have a series – let alone such a major series as this – to look forward to is a great relief for all,” Andrew White stated as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

Andrew White went on to claim that the forced break due to the global health crisis has also influenced their thinking in selecting the team. Hence, keeping that in mind, the panel has named reserve players like all the international teams, returning to cricket.

“This lack of on-field action since March – and the short lead-in programme to the ODI series – influenced our thinking on the broader squad. However, the unique circumstances of the situation has allowed us to involve more players than we would normally bring on such a tour,”

Fast Bowler Mark Adair returns for Ireland:

The former Irish cricketer added that the performances by the players against West Indies and Afghanistan earlier this year have led to some players making it to the squad. Mark Adair, who ended up as Ireland’s highest wicket-taker in 2019 in ODIs, returns to the fold. The speedster snared 15 wickets in nine games last year and last played in January and White asserted that the squad provides them with the best chance of competing against the Englishmen.

“The form shown by several players in the Caribbean in January, Wolves tour in February and the Afghan series in March really bolstered their case for selection,” White said. “We’re delighted that our top wicket-taker in 2019, Mark Adair, returns after recovering from ankle surgery, and feel we have the right squad balance for these important fixtures – keeping in mind that they are World Cup qualifiers,” he added.

The Irishmen will arrive in Southampton on the 18th of July through a chartered flight from Dublin and play a warm-up match against England Lions. From there, a 14-man squad will be picked while seven players would serve as reserves. The Rose Bowl will play as hosts for all three fixtures till the 5th of August.

Squad: Mark Adair, Andy Balbirnie (capt), Curtis Campher, Peter Chase, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Jonathan Garth, Tyrone Kane, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

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