CRICKET/C&G Trophy: The Irish side reassemble this weekend for their penultimate match in the C&G Trophy against Sussex at Castle Avenue tomorrow followed by the historic first meeting with England at Stormont on Tuesday.
A win or even a competitive defeat tomorrow is vital if this competition is to be viewed as anything but a failure. Although Ireland beat Gloucestershire at Bristol and pushed Glamorgan very close at Cardiff, the five other matches played so far have been depressing affairs with four heavy defeats, along with a rain-affected draw against Surrey.
They have had a chance to try to rebuild their lost confidence. Dominick Joyce scored a century for Merrion last weekend while Paul Mooney, John Mooney, Kyle McCallan, Andre Botha and others managed to put in good individual performances also.
Ireland will be without Eoin Morgan tomorrow and also, amazingly on Tuesday, due to commitments he has with Middlesex. Kent wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien is also unavailable for Tuesday, but bizarrely all the counties are prepared to release their England players for one-day internationals but not their Irish players, even when it is the same match.
Morgan is replaced in tomorrow's squad by Rush batsman William Porterfield. Despite having just been beaten by Lancashire in two days in the County Championship, Sussex are riding high on top of the South Section of the C&G Trophy with only one defeat from six matches.
The Pakistan Cricket Board have agreed to allow fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan to remain with Sussex until the end of June which prompts the question why Ireland overseas player Shahid Afridi had to go home as Pakistan prepare for their England tour.
Sussex have named leg-spin wizard Mushtaq Ahmed in a squad that includes Test players Murray Goodwin and Chris Adams as well as in-form opening batsman Richard Montgomerie and wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Elsewhere, the Whitney Moore Senior League is in full swing. Today, North County play Clontarf at Inch in a game they will be confident of winning even without three of their top players, who are on international duty.
IRELAND (squad): Trent Johnston (captain), Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Dominick Joyce, Andre Botha, Peter Gillespie, Kyle McCallan, Andy White, Paul Mooney, John Mooney, Saqlain Mushtaq, Kevin O'Brien.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday - Leinster Senior League (1pm): North County v Clontarf, Inch; Old Belvedere v Munster Reds, Cabra; Pembroke v Merrion, Sydney Parade; Phoenix v YMCA, Phoenix Park; Rush v The Hills, Kenure; Railway Union v Leinster, Park Avenue. Sunday - C&C Trophy (Southern Section): Ireland v Sussex, Castle Avenue, 10.45am.
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