Ireland's cricketers spent part of their day off yesterday on a mystery tour around Glasgow - an appropriate excursion for a team that have been directionless during the first two days of the European championship.
It was the Irish batting that lost its way on Saturday, when only seven runs came from seven overs in the middle of a reply that fell 34 runs shy of the England ECB XI's 213 for 8 off 50 overs.
The main culprit for the go-slow was 18-year-old Merrion batsman Dominic Joyce, who made just five from 28 deliveries after Ireland captain, Kyle McCallan, had been adjudged caught behind for 30 overs.
Joyce is reckoned to be at least as good a prospect as his brother Ed, now with county side Middlesex, but he has not looked as immediately at home at this level as Ed did at the same age three years ago.
Peter Gillespie could also be accused of nodding off between the 24th and 31st overs, but his eventual 54 came off 79 balls, roughly the same rate of progress as the ECB's top scorers, Paul Bryson (70) and Carl Amos (50) on a tricky pitch.
Ireland were off the pace from the start, with Paul Mooney and Adrian McCoubrey failing to impress with the new ball. It was left-armer Matt Dwyer who pulled his team back into contention with 1 for 27 before off-spinner Andrew White claimed four wickets at the end with the simple but often forgotten tactic of bowling straight. A second defeat, following the opening day's loss to Holland, has not only put Ireland out of contention for the European title but also raised doubts as to the direction of the national side.
Coach Ken Rutherford knows where he wants to go but Ireland are struggling less than a year away from the next World Cup qualifying tournament. In an attempt to gather momentum, Ireland will use their remaining games against Denmark today , then Italy and Scotland, to try different strategies and give Owen Butler, Ryan Haire and Gus Joyce a run out.
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