IRELAND'S most capped cricketer, Garfield Harrison of Waringstown, and Lisburn's Uel Graham have announced their retirement from the representative game. Both were in the Ireland squad which finished fourth in the recent ICC Trophy tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
Harrison (36), one of Ireland's finest all rounders, made 118 appearances between 1983 (his debut was against Worcestershire at Rathmines) and this year. He thus exceeded Stephen Warke's previous record of 114 matches, while Alan Lewis, with 112 games to date, is in hot pursuit.
Harrison scored 2,765 runs, including one century and twelve 50s, for an average of 26.08. His 140 wickets cost an average of 33.67, and he took five wickets in an innings on three occasions. The only other player to exceed 2,000 runs and 100 wickets for Ireland is Old Belvedere's Alec O'Riordan.
Graham (30) played 36 matches for Ireland between 1992 (against Middlesex at Malahide) and 1997. He scored 544 runs for an average of 19.42 and took 22 wickets at, an average 38.09.
Kyle McCallan (Cliftonville) will replace Harrison and Gregg Molins (Carlisle) has been added to Ireland's squad for the first three Benson & Hedges Cup matches, against Middlesex (Monday April 28th, at Castle Avenue), Somerset (Friday May 2nd, at Taunton), and Glamorgan (Monday May 5th in Cardiff).
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