CRICKET PREVIEW:IRELAND WILL have to do without skipper William Porterfield for their final three outings in the Friends Provident Trophy after his rich vein of form was rewarded with a call-up to the Gloucestershire first team.
With wicket-keeper Gary Wilson also required by Surrey, coach Phil Simmons has had a busy week in formulating a squad for a hectic schedule that will see Ireland play three games in four days, starting with a return clash against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Sunday.
Porterfield's half-century in last Friday's clash against the Bears at Stormont was the catalyst in Ireland's four-wicket victory. Another 50 two days later in the loss to Leicestershire, added to an unbeaten 90 in a second XI game, was enough to persuade the Gloucestershire selectors to include the 23-year-old for Sunday's clash against Hampshire in Bristol.
Simmons yesterday called up Under-19 World Cup player Chris Dougherty, the Bready opening batsman joining Fintan McAllister in the squad after he was called up in place of Wilson.
Simmons was philosophical about the loss of Porterfield, who has scored four half-centuries in his last seven innings in the FP Trophy. "He's been batting well so it's not much of a surprise that he's got into the first team at Gloucestershire. With Gary also, it's testimony to how well the guys have played. It's good for them to get a chance and it can only improve their game," he said.
Simmons hands record cap-holder Kyle McCallan the captaincy on his 183rd appearance for his country, the first time he has led the side since last year's World Cup clash against West Indies, where he took over from the injured Trent Johnston.
Simmons knows the final series of games will prove difficult on a squad with an average age of just 24. "It's tough and the competition has always been tough because every time we go away we have to play back-to-back games. Then teams come here and play one game and go back," said Simmons.
The former West Indian all-rounder is hopeful that his side have learned their lesson from last Sunday's loss to Leicestershire and hasn't ruled out running up the double over Warwickshire.
"After last weekend, we'll be confident that we can win against them," said Simmons, before adding a rider. "We'll have to go and play the game and do the right things, concentrate for 100 overs, not for 50 overs. That's what we've got to take there."
Simmons is likely to reinstate James Hall to the opening slot in the absence of Porterfield, with McAllister coming in to take over the wicket-keeping duties.
Andy White will set his own little bit of history when he becomes the youngest Ireland player to make 100 appearances at the age of 27.
Meanwhile, the biggest game of the Leinster season so far takes place tomorrow when North County host Railway Union in the semi-finals of the DGM League at Balrothery. County are unbeaten this season and, ominously for Railway Union, have scored over 300 both times they have batted first. Railway may have gone out of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup at the hands of Limavady, but with Australian pro Trent Copeland looking like the signing of the summer, they will provide a huge test for the Fingal side.
IRELAND (Squad for FP Trophy games v Warwickshire, Edgbaston, Sunday and Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, Monday): K McCallan (Waringstown, capt), A Cusack (Clontarf), C Dougherty (Bready), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Fourie (Railway Union), J Hall (Waringstown), G Kidd (Waringstown), F McAllister (Rush, wkts), K O'Brien (Railway Union), R Rampaul (Overseas), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), A White (Instonians).
