Cricket: Two of Ireland's best players will be on show in Clontarf tomorrow, both playing for the opposition. Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan are set to appear for Middlesex against Ireland on Sunday.
For Joyce it will be a chance to make amends for the last time he played against his countrymen, for England in the World Cup.
That day was one to forget for the man from Bray. In the humid heat of Georgetown, Guyana, Joyce was bowled shouldering arms for 0 by Boyd Rankin and then dropped two catches when in the field. He has played just one ODI since that day and remains on the fringes of selection for his adopted country.
Morgan has been in good form this year, both for Ireland and Middlesex. He scored a hundred against Essex in the Friends Provident Trophy.
In the Intercontinental Cup final he stroked a superb 84 to help steer Ireland to an unassailable total against Canada, one that led to an innings victory and the retention of the trophy.
In the Ireland team, Dominick Joyce, Ed's brother, is set to make a return to international cricket for the first time since the England game at Stormont a year ago.
Coach Phil Simmons has picked him in recognition of an excellent start to the year in Leinster club cricket.
"Although he has played a lot of games (66) for Ireland, he's still only 25 and has his best years as a batsman in front of him," said Simmons.
Alex Cusack of Merrion comes in as cover for Jeremy Bray, who is resting ahead of the international games against India and South Africa at the end of the month.
"Cusack has also been playing well and fully deserves his chance," said Simmons.
Dave Langford Smith has not recovered from an injury he sustained against Canada, when he tore intercostal muscles coming in to bowl.
Ireland will take the field with only one overseas professional, Nanty Hayward, following the Jesse Ryder farrago. Nathan Astle, the former Kiwi Test player, was available for only one of the remaining two Friends Provident games and it was felt this was insufficient to offer him a contract.
Ireland play their final game against county opposition on Wednesday, when they take on Glamorgan in Stormont, Belfast.
Elsewhere it was announced that Jacques Kallis will lead South Africa during their one-day tour in Ireland, in place of the injured Graeme Smith. The squad includes five players who weren't part of the World Cup squad.
IRELAND (squad): T Johnston (Railway Union, capt), K Carroll (Railway Union), A Cusack(Clontarf), T Fourie (Merrion), P Gillespie (Strabane), N Hayward (Overseas), D Joyce (Merrion), K McCallan (Waringstown), K O'Brien (Railway Union), W Porterfield (Rush), R Whelan (Railway Union), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).
