CRICKET WORLD CUP: IRELAND ARRIVED into the steamy heat of Calcutta on Saturday evening knowing in more ways than one that breathing space is something they will have little of over the next week.
After the fresh mountain air of Chandigarh, the humidity and heat index have risen appreciably as the squad got their first look at the magnificent Eden Gardens, a ground up there with Lord’s and the MCG as one of the most iconic in the cricket world. And it’s there tomorrow their World Cup campaign faces another huge test against a South African team that stunned India in Nagpur on Saturday night to inflict the hosts’ first defeat in the competition.
The Proteas’ three-wicket victory with just two balls remaining leaves the four quarter-final spots still to be decided from Group B coming into the last week of first-round games.
The equation for Ireland is simple enough, as they know they must beat South Africa tomorrow and the Netherlands on Friday to have any chance of making it.
They would then need England to lose to the West Indies on Thursday and for Bangladesh to lose at least one of their final two game against the Dutch tomorrow or South Africa next Saturday. In that instance, the fourth and final place would come down to net run rate, where Ireland presently enjoy an edge over the Tigers. Simple enough really!
The Ireland squad hasn’t looked in to the fine print of qualification as the four points must be earned first. And Andre Botha, one of two South African-born players in the Ireland squad, alongside off-spinner Albert van der Merwe, believes the clarity of their position will help them approach the closing two games in the right frame of mind.
“In a way it does, we’ve been putting ourselves in positions to win every single game and now we’re sitting at this stage where we basically have to win two games. I think we’ve fallen short in a few games, now we have to win and we might play with a bit more freedom, like we used to and take away that last bit of pressure to get over the line.” admitted the North County all-rounder.
With the temperature set to be in the mid 30s and humidity levels high when the day/night game gets under way tomorrow, Ireland will certainly face their most taxing test in terms of conditions.
Botha, though, is hopeful the extra day of rest between games after losing to West Indies on Friday will stand to Ireland.
“We’ve only been here a day but it is going to be tough for us. We haven’t had too much time to acclimatise but we’ve got a long practice session tomorrow and then straight into the game,” added Botha.
“The way we are seeing it was that they still have to travel here after a big win, so hopefully they might just relax a bit and that will give us a big advantage.”
Botha returned to the Ireland side for the loss against West Indies after recovering from a groin strain but the 35-year-old, who was born in Johannesburg before coming to play cricket in Ireland at 18, is keen to face South Africa for a third time.
“I’ve played them a couple of times since I moved over but any time you play against South Africa, not just because I’m born there, but obviously they are one of the best teams in the world at the moment and probably one of the favourites in this tournament as well. So every time you walk out against them it is going to be pretty special.”
Another player keen to step out at Eden Gardens tomorrow is former captain Trent Johnston after he missed the Windies game with a bruised right knee.
Although a full day’s travel didn’t help him on Saturday, Johnston was out on the Eden Gardens outfield yesterday afternoon with the rest of the squad, and during last night’s session under lights, but did not bowl. He is expected to bowl today during practice in a bid to prove his fitness.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)