CRICKET NEWS: IRELAND'S BID to boost their front-line bowling resources should see Andrew Britton make his full international debut this week after the Fox Lodge paceman was included in a 13-man squad for the Intercontinental Cup clash with Kenya at Eglinton.
The 21-year-old impressed for the A side in last week’s defeat to a Yorkshire XI in Leeds and is likely to start the four-day game due to Boyd Rankin’s unavailability.
Skipper William Porterfield also misses out due to county commitments, while Niall O’Brien’s ankle injury means that Surrey’s Gary Wilson will take over behind the stumps.
The selectors’ decision to omit John Mooney from the squad is surprising considering his fine form at the moment, although the North County all-rounder will return for next week’s RSA Challenge Series that sees Ireland take on the African side in three One-Day Internationals at Castle Avenue.
The good news is that coach Phil Simmons will have Porterfield and Rankin back in the fold for the one-dayers, with Kyle McCallan taking over the captaincy for the four-day clash.
Simmons is keen to see his side keep up their momentum from the recent World Twenty20 campaign as they open their bid for a fourth straight Intercontinental Cup crown.
“We’ve had a good 2009 so far, winning the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa, and beating Bangladesh in the ICC World Twenty20. I want to keep that winning momentum, and I think we can do that with the current squad,” said Simmons.
The West Indian had no hesitation in including Britton in the squad after Ireland A bowling coach Trent Johnston gave the former under-19 international a glowing reference.
“Andy Britton deserves his chance as he’s done well over the past 18 months. Trent Johnston was very impressed with him last week in Yorkshire.”
Simmons will also be encouraged by some of the performances in the Leinster Senior League over the weekend. North County won the big game in Section A, gaining revenge for an earlier league loss as they beat Railway Union by four wickets at Balrothery.
Railway Union set an imposing total of 266 for seven off their 50 overs, with fine contributions from Kenny Carroll (79) and Tom Fisher (76). Andre Botha had his first spell with the ball in quite some time, taking two for 41, while John Mooney (2-40) and Francois van der Merwe (3-38) were also amongst the wickets.
County made light work of their chase, with Mooney making 90 and Conor Armstrong 74 as they got home with over six overs to spare.
Ireland Under-19 captain and A international Andrew Balbirnie scored his second century in three days but it wasn’t enough for Pembroke as they went down to Leinster by six wickets at Sydney Parade, while The Hills joined North County and Clontarf in a three-way tie at the top of Section A with a 31-run victory over Merrion at Anglesea Road.
IRELAND(squad for Intercontinental Cup v Kenya, Eglinton, July 3rd-6th): K McCallan(Waringstown, capt), A Botha(North County), J Bray(The Hills), A Britton(Fox Lodge), P Connell(North Down), A Cusack(Clontarf), T Johnston(Railway Union), K O'Brien(Railway Union/Nottinghamshire), A Poynter(Clontarf), P Stirling(Carrickfergus), R West(Civil Service North), A White(Instonians), G Wilson(Surrey, wkts).
IRELAND(squad for RSA Challenge Series v Kenya, July 9th, 10th and 11th, Clontarf): W Porterfield(Gloucestershire, capt), A Botha, A Britton, P Connell, A Cusack, T Johnston, K McCallan, J Mooney(North County), K O'Brien, B Rankin(Warwickshire), P Stirling, R West, A White, G Wilson.
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