Porterfield confident in captain's role

CRICKET/FRIENDS PROVIDENT TROPHY:A YEAR on from their extraordinary exploits at the World Cup a new-look Ireland side face into their opening game of the summer when they tackle Nottinghamshire in the Friends Provident Trophy at Castle Avenue tomorrow (12.0).

The Sky Sports cameras are in town for the day and a giant screen will be used for the first time at a cricket match in Ireland to relay the action to the crowd in Clontarf. Many of the faces shown though will be unfamiliar to those who followed last year's Caribbean adventure, with a mixture of retirements, English county commitments and loss of form meaning only five of that squad are included in the 13 for tomorrow's game.

Trent Johnston's chicken dance celebration and its distant cousin, the ferret dance, favoured by David Langford-Smith will be missing, but not as much as their owners' talents as coach Phil Simmons continues a rebuilding process in his second year in charge. The former West Indies player hasn't been afraid to give youth its fling and includes two teenagers in his squad with the uncapped James Hall joining Paul Stirling, who made his debut in the Intercontinental Cup victory over the United Arab Emirates back in March.

With one eye on next year's qualifiers and the World Cup itself in 2011, seven of the squad are aged 25 or under, with 23-year-old William Porterfield taking over the captaincy from Johnston. Porterfield has captained Ireland at every level from under-13 and is confident he can make the step up the top level.

"It's going to be something special, a big honour, something I always wanted to do," remarked the opening batsman, who became the first Ireland player to score over 1,000 runs in a year in 2007. "The opportunity has come slightly earlier than I expected . . . I don't really think about my age, I feel experienced in a way and although I've still a lot to learn I feel confident and comfortable enough in the role."

Porterfield's exploits with the bat and his outstanding ability in the field brought him to the attention of Gloucestershire, who have signed the Derry native on a two-year contract. He made his first-class debut against Loughborough University during the week and although he made a duck in his first innings he will have surprised many by claiming a wicket against the students as his side tried to set up a run chase on the final day.

"I was giving them a few lob-ups just to make a game of it, but I've got a first-class victim so obviously I'll not complain," he said.

Porterfield is realistic about the chances in the new-look Friends Provident Trophy, in which Ireland will also take on Warwickshire, Northants and Leicestershire on a home and away basis.

"First and foremost we want to compete and play to our strengths. I feel if we can do that and do the simple things right, be more consistent and really nail the areas of the game we need then the results will look after themselves."

Porterfield is in line with Simmons's goals to build a squad up ahead of next year's World Cup qualifiers and the hosting of the Twenty20 version at Stormont in August. "If you take a step back and look at this summer it's all geared towards the World Cup qualifiers. Getting 15 or so players that Phil wants and getting the games under their belts and the experience needed to go and compete and qualify. The Twenty20 qualifiers also stand out for both financial reasons and obviously for the prestige of playing more cricket on a world stage."

Simmons is expected to hand a debut to left-arm opening bowler Phil Eaglestone for tomorrow's game, the Strabane player likely to take the new ball with Kevin O'Brien. Reinhardt Strydom's promising start to the season, which saw him make 170 for North County against Rush last weekend, should see him join Porterfield at the top of the batting order.

Nottinghamshire have included England opening bowler Ryan Sidebottom, one of five internationals in their squad that is captained by former England wicket-keeper Chris Read.

IRELAND (From): W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, capt); A Botha (North County), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Fourie (Railway Union), J Hall (Waringstown), G Kidd (Waringstown), K McCallan (Waringstown), K O'Brien (Railway Union), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (From): C Read (Capt), M Ealham, W Jefferson, S Patel, D Pattinson, B Shafayat, C Shreck, G Swann, R Sidebottom, A Voges, M Wagh, M Wood.