CRICKET/ TWENTY20:BUOYED BY their defence of the European Championships, Ireland now enter into the most important few days of the summer as the World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast gets under way this morning.
With two, and possibly three, of the six countries qualifying for next summer's lucrative finals in England, the pressure will be of a more intense level. Ireland will be keen to relive the memories of last year's Caribbean adventure by getting back to the top table of the world game.
They will go into the tournament without Eoin Morgan after coach Phil Simmons confirmed yesterday the Middlesex batsman will not travel to Belfast.
After being initially named in the squad, Morgan had a change of heart and, although he was willing to play in the group games, he would not be available for the knock-out stages as he wants to play in Middlesex's Pro40 League game against Somerset on Monday at Lord's.
Simmons wasn't amenable to that scenario, having already told Northants player Niall O'Brien it was a case of all or nothing.
Ireland go in to the tournament with 13 players as no replacement is allowed in this scenario.
The coach was keen to draw a line under the issue yesterday, but it was obvious he could have done without the hassle in the build-up to such a key event.
"You can't really be happy with the situation, it's a case that we picked a team and up until the beginning of last week everybody was coming, and then all of a sudden Eoin has a change of mind," said Simmons after his squad had their final practice session at Saintfield yesterday.
"He only wanted to play two days, so you can't be happy with that, but at the same time he wants to play for Middlesex and so I respect that. I want to move ahead and start looking ahead to tomorrow and what we have to do," he added.
Still, Simmons's side face Scotland first-up at Stormont (1.0) today with plenty of confidence after their emphatic, seven-wicket victory over the same opposition in Clontarf on Thursday.
Gary Wilson's form with the bat during the tournament was key to Ireland's success, while Niall O'Brien and captain William Porterfield will also add their considerable experience to the mix.
The return of World Cup skipper Trent Johnston will add significantly to Porterfield's options. He tops the Leinster batting charts with an average of 85, while the fact he is bowling pain-free after an operation gives Ireland more strength in a department which should be also well served by Andre Botha and Alex Cusack, who look perfectly suited to the short form of the game.
Ireland take on Bermuda in their other Group A clash tomorrow, with the top two going through to Monday's semi-finals. Group B comprises Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada.
Victory in the semi-finals is enough to secure a place in next year's finals and the €160,000 participation fee that goes with qualification. The most tense contest of the competition is set to be the third and fourth place play-off on Monday, with the winners expected to take their place in the finals, pending confirmation that Zimbabwe have pulled out.
IRELAND(squad): W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, capt), A Botha (North County), P Connell (North Down), A Cusack (Clontarf), T Fourie (Railway Union), T Johnston (Railway Union), G Kidd (Waringstown), K McCallan (Waringstown), K O'Brien (Railway Union), N O'Brien (Northants), R Strydom (North County), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).
FIXTURES
Today - Group B: Kenya v Netherlands, 9.30. Group A: Ireland v Scotland, 1.0. Group B: Netherlands v Canada, 4.30. Tomorrow Group A: Scotland v Bermuda, 9.30. Group B: Kenya v Canada, 1.0. Group A: Ireland v Bermuda, 4.30. Monday - Semi-final 1- (Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B), 9.30. Semi-Final 2- (Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A), 1.0. Third/Fourth place play-off, 4.30. Tuesday - Fifth/Sixth place play-off, 9.30. Final, 1.0.
