Cricket:Phil Simmons stuck by the 15 players who helped Ireland claim a hat-trick of Intercontinental Cup titles in Port Elizabeth last month, when naming his 18-man preliminary squad for next April's 2011 World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.
Eoin Morgan, who missed the tour due to his commitments with Middlesex, Paul Stirling and Reinhardt Strydom also return.
Their availability is a big boost ahead of what looks a difficult group in the qualifiers.
Four teams will qualify, with Ireland needing a top two finish in a group that includes Scotland, Canada and Namibia, whom they beat in the Intercontinental Cup decider. Oman and a qualifier will make up the group.
"I've decided to go with the group of players who have served us so well this past season. It's hard to go outside that group, and the fact there's so little cricket for us between then and the qualifiers makes it nearly impossible for anybody else to stake a claim," Simmons said today.
"We know it's going to be tough for all the countries with just four places up for grabs. There's going to be a lot of pressure games, but we have an experienced squad who have proven themselves over the years."
Simmons will also name an A squad in early February that will train through March and April as cover for the senior team.
IRELAND (Preliminary squad for World Cup qualifiers):W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, Capt), A Botha (North County), P Connell (North Down), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Johnston (Railway Union), K McCallan (Waringstown), J Mooney (North County), E Morgan (Middlesex), K O'Brien (Railway Union), N O'Brien (Northamptonshire), A Poynter (Clontarf), B Rankin (Warwickshire), P Stirling, (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), R West (Civil Service North), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey)