CRICKET:THE SMILES on the faces of the Ireland players after their thrilling Super Over victory against the Netherlands at Lord's on Monday showed that not much has changed since their first appearance in the World Cup two years ago in the Caribbean.
They are there to compete, but they are going to have fun for however long their Twenty20 World Cup journey lasts.
It was that sense of enjoyment that endeared them to so many on their journey, including former West Indian fast bowler and now commentator Colin Croft.
“They were always full of life and it really grew on me that these guys are here to have fun, which also reminded me of the West Indies team that I played in the 70s and 80s. We beat almost everyone we played at that time, but, more than that, we had fun.”
It’s interesting to contrast Ireland’s preparations with those of fellow Associate nation Scotland, who have had their own “Saipan Moment” with news that leading strike bowler John Blain has left the squad after a falling out with skipper Gavin Hamilton.
Scotland’s dressingroom has long been considered a troubled place, with various factions fighting their battles and young players voicing their disenchantment at the situation that faces them when they enter.
Despite some of Ireland’s players expressing disillusionment at the progress off the pitch after the last World Cup, the dressingroom has always remained united, with new players easily assimilating into a strong squad culture.
The strength of that squad will give coach Phil Simmons a headache or two when he comes to select his starting X1 for the opening World Cup clash against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge next Monday.
The composition of his top order will be one of those dilemmas. Jeremy Bray’s innings of 30 in yesterday’s clash against West Indies at The Oval has done his cause no harm, although Simmons may baulk at having two left-handers at the top of the order.
He may go with Gary Wilson alongside skipper William Porterfield, while 18-year-old Paul Stirling has had a number of useful knocks as an opener and also boasts a strike rate of close to 120 in the shortest form of the game.
That his bowlers could only manage one wicket against the Windies will concern Simmons, even given that Chris Gayle is virtually impossible to bowl at if he’s in the mood.
Simmons’s options have been limited by the ankle injury to Andre Botha, that will see him used only as a batsman, while Kevin O’Brien has failed to find any kind of form with the ball this year.
With spin proving to be a key to success in T20, the inclusion of left-armer Regan West looks guaranteed alongside Kyle McCallan, with Peter Connell and Boyd Rankin looking after new-ball duties.
Trent Johnston, hero of Monday’s eliminator against the Dutch, has adapted his bowling perfectly to the game, while Simmons may turn to Alex Cusack if he fancies a little cover in that department.
Tomorrow’s line-up for the final warm-up game against South Africa at Southgate is likely to be the one that opens against Bangladesh. And with that encounter likely to be Ireland’s only route to a second successive Super Eights appearance, this side now know it’s time to get serious – with a smile of course.
