New Ireland cricket coach could be named within next seven days

Cricket Ireland intend to have a new coach in place for the Royal London One-Day International against England at Malahide on May 8th, as they reach the final stages of finding a replacement for Phil Simmons.

Cricket Ireland’s high performance director Richard Holdsworth has led the search and said yesterday the appointment could be made within the next seven days.

“It’s been an extremely quick but thorough process, we’ve hurried things through and are reaching the final stages,” Holdsworth said.

“The likelihood of the new coach being in place for the England game is very high. They may come in for the England game and may not start full-time straight away,” he added.

A phased introduction would point towards a coach already in employment such as Hampshire’s first-team coach Dale Benkenstein, who comes with a strong recommendation from former Irish coach Adrian Birrell.

Take charge

The new coach is expected to take charge when the Irish squad gathers on Wednesday May 6th, ahead of the England game.

Ireland assistant coach Peter Johnston has been assisted by National Academy manager Craig Hogan and performance coach Ryan Eagleson since Simmons departed to coach the West Indies.

A 14-man squad has been named for the game, with Middlesex opening bowler Tim Murtagh returning after missing the World Cup through injury.

Max Sorensen misses out after replacing Murtagh in Australia and New Zealand, while Peter Chase also misses out from the World Cup squad.

Chase’s Durham team-mate Stuart Poynter made the biggest claim for a call-up after his unbeaten century in the Ireland ‘A’ victory over MCC at Lord’s this week.

But there are no surprises in the squad, with chairman of selectors Alan Lewis confirming that an extra player was named as a precaution after off-spinner Andrew McBrine picked up a groin injury in the warm-up for the Ireland ‘A’ game.

Unbeaten tons

William Porterfield will win his 200th cap in Malahide, having scored a brilliant century in the game at the same venue in September 2013, which England went on to win by six wickets as England skipper Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara both hit unbeaten tons.

“It’s a bit special for it to be against England in front of an expected sell-out crowd at Malahide,” said Porterfield.

“I’ve happy memories personally from the last time we played them in Dublin, scoring a century, although the result didn’t go our way that day.

“Hopefully in home conditions we can get the win that our fantastic supporters so richly deserve.”

IRELAND (Squad for ODI v England, Malahide, Friday, May 8th): William Porterfield (Warwickshire, capt), Andrew Balbirnie (Middlesex), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), John Mooney (North County), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Kevin O’Brien (Railway Union), Niall O’Brien (Leicestershire), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Craig Young (Bready).