Ireland look to Rampaul

CRICKET/INTERNATIONAL NEWS:THE LAST time Ireland took on Leicestershire at Grace Road, a tall, graceful opening batsman from Trinidad was making his debut for the county. On that occasion 14 years ago, Phil Simmons walked away with the man-of-the-match honours after hitting 64 as his side eased to a nine-wicket victory in the BH Cup tie.

This time around the Ireland coach is fighting in the other corner in a city he describes as "his second cricketing home outside the Caribbean".

He is hoping though that another Trinidadian can grab the headlines this time around after signing Ravi Rampaul as an overseas player for the remaining seven games of this year's Friends Provident Trophy.

Simmons freely admits that the 23-year-old West Indies player wasn't at the top of his shopping list when he went in search of an opening bowler, but he is confident Rampaul will do a job, starting tomorrow at Grace Road.

"Ravi's a very useful bowler, with plenty of pace and movement. He has played 30 times for the West Indies in One-Day Internationals, and you don't do that unless you can play a bit," said Simmons.

"He has a passion for the game, and loves to play. He's also a competitive type of player, which I like. He'll bring a lot to the dressingroom," he added.

No stranger to this country, Rampaul has played here three times for the West Indies. After taking three wickets in his side's 96-run win at Stormont back in 2004, he went for 74 runs off his seven overs the following day as Ireland recorded a famous six-wicket victory.

Rampaul is likely to open the bowling tomorrow alongside Kevin O'Brien, who showed he is continuing to mature as an international cricketer with his best one-day figures of 4-31 in last weekend's opening 56-run defeat to Nottinghamshire at Castle Avenue.

Deprived of the services of World Cup bowlers Boyd Rankin, David Langford-Smith and Trent Johnston, Simmons is full of praise for how the 24-year-old Railway Union all-rounder has stepped up to the plate.

"Kevin led the way with the ball last week. That's one of the great things about him, if it's a case where he has to go and swing the bat, he's willing to do that. The same with the ball and in the field. He is a great asset in that he does all three, and he does them well," said Simmons.

Ireland's Bank Holiday double-header sees them move on to Northampton on Monday, where Kevin could come up against his brother, Niall.

Kevin has decided against the road of trying his hand on the county circuit like his elder sibling and no-one is more delighted with that than Simmons.

"Kevin could play county cricket, he has the ability to do it, but everyone's goal is not the same."

Ahead of Monday's game, Northampton have been boosted considerably with the news that South African internationals Andrew Hall and Johan van der Wath have been successful in their appeals against an ECB block on them playing in England this season.

The pair had been originally refused registration after competing in the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

IRELAND (Squad For FP Trophy games away to Leicestershire and Northampton): W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, Capt), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Fourie (Railway Union), J Hall (Waringstown), G Kidd (Waringstown), K McCallan (Waringstown), K O'Brien (Railway Union), R Rampaul (Overseas), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).