THE Irish cricket selectors have named a squad of 14 players for Ireland's four-game tour of England at the end of the month, a venture that culminates with two Benson and Hedges league games - against Hampshire at Somerset, on Friday the 26th, and against Sussex at Hove two days later.

In preparation for these games, the team will play two uncapped friendlies against Worcestershire and Somerset. All four games will be played under the same regulations as the Wills World Cup, with 50 overs a side and just two fielders allowed outside the circle for the first 15 overs.

As expected, veterans Paul McCrum and Michael Rea are back in the squad. Another interesting inclusion is Bready's wicket-keeper Alan Rutherford, who was last capped in 1993. His former club mate and wicket-keeping rival, Stephen Ogilvy was not considered because of study commitments in Chester.

Other examination-tied cricketers are Jason Mull ins (Carlisle) and Peter Davey (Pembroke), while Old Belvedere's Owen Butler has suffered a recurrence of a shin injury.