Sport

Irish target good start in hat-trick bid

CRICKET NEWS IRELAND FACE into a key Intercontinental Cup tie against the Netherlands today as they bid to make it a hat-trick…

EMMET RIORDAN in Rotterdam
Wed Jul 09 2008 - 01:00

CRICKET NEWSIRELAND FACE into a key Intercontinental Cup tie against the Netherlands today as they bid to make it a hat-trick of successive wins in the competition.

Last May's victory over Canada at Grace Road handed Phil Simmons his first trophy as Ireland coach and his side go into the four-day fixture defending a fine record that has seen them lose only one game in the competition in the four years of its existence.

Simmons has had to deal with the late withdrawal of Andy White for personal reasons, with Waringstown's James Hall coming back into the squad following a foot injury. White will be a big loss, the Instonians player having made a match-defining 152 not out in Ireland's comprehensive victory away to the Dutch four years ago.

The early return from injury of Kevin O'Brien and Alex Cusack will bring some much needed experience against a strong Dutch side.

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"They are a big addition to the side, the more senior players you have in between the youngsters, it makes things better, so it's good to have them back," remarked Simmons, who is hoping some of younger charges step up to the plate following last week's poor showings against New Zealand and Scotland in Aberdeen.

"It doesn't matter how much I believe in them, until they believe in their capabilities and start doing it, that's when we are getting somewhere. It's up to them to cement their places and make it hard for senior players when they come back."

Simmons is hoping the longer form of the game will help players like Andrew Poynter and Peter Connell settle in at international after last week's baptism of fire.

"It's a four-day game so it's a different story. There are no constraints of time, you don't have to play shots, and you can bat for as long as possible. When you're bowling, you can work out people, it's a different game."

The Netherlands have had a far from ideal build-up after their teenage batting star, Alexei Kervezee, pulled out with a hamstring injury. With Ryan ten Doeschate staying with Essex and Bas Zuiderent unavailable, the home side will be missing their top three batsmen.

Lying third in the table behind Namibia and Kenya, albeit with games in hand, Simmons is well aware Ireland must gain as many points as possible from the Dutch match and next month's clash with Canada in Malahide before they face into a tough end to the campaign away to the two leading sides.

"We've got to make sure that when we go to Namibia and Kenya that we are above them in the table, which is possible if we win the other two games," added Simmons.

A victory, with the bonus points from a first-innings lead, would put Ireland into second spot in the table ahead of Kenya. Anything less and the game of catch-up may prove beyond Simmons's side.

IRELAND (from):K McCallan (Waringstown, Capt), A Botha (North County), P Connell (North Down), A Cusack (Clontarf), J Hall (Waringstown), T Fourie (Railway Union), G Kidd (Waringstown), K O'Brien (Railway Union), A Poynter (Clontarf), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), G Thompson (Lisburn), G Wilson (Surrey, wkts).

NETHERLANDS (from):J Smits (capt, wkt), R Bakkas, P Borren, M Bukhari, D van Bunge, T de Grooth, M Jonkman, G-M Mol, E Schiferli, P Seelaar, N Statham, L Stokkers.

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