Cricket Ireland have confirmed that the 15-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be the same selection that have travelled to Dubai for the upcoming tri-series against Scotland and Afghanistan.
In what was an expected move, the selectors have rubber stamped the squad they named in December, passing on the list to the International Cricket Council a day ahead of the deadline.
The squad features nine players who took part in the 2011 World Cup and five survivors from Ireland's debut in the tournament in 2007, including William Porterfield, who will skipper the side for the second time in a 50-overs World Cup. The other players to take part in the West Indies are Niall and Kevin O'Brien, John Mooney and Ed Joyce, who played for England eight years ago.
Middlesex batsman Andrew Balbirnie and tall Durham pace bowler Peter Chase both made a late run to make the squad following good showings on both the acclimitisation tour to Australia and New Zealand and the pre-Christmas trip to Dubai.
The other World Cup newcomers are Tim Murtagh, Craig Young, Stuart Thompson and Donemana off-spinner Andrew McBrine.
Although pipped for selection by Chase, Max Sorensen is one of five seam bowlers that have travelled to Dubai, where they will work in the nets with the World Cup squad. Ireland internationals Graeme McCarter and Eddie Richardson, as well as the uncapped duo of Barry McCarthy and Tyrone Kane have also made the trip.
Ireland coach Phil Simmons has yet to name any replacements for the World Cup, but the intention is to have a number of players based in Australia in the event of injury.
“We’ve got five extra seamers with the World Cup squad here in Dubai,” said Simmons, who arrived with the Irish squad in the emirate on Sunday.
“It’s our intention to have some additional players based in Australia to provide cover for the World Cup squad, and we’ll finalise those arrangements in the coming weeks. It’s important that we’ll have players who can hit the ground running if we suffer any injuries during the two months of the event.”
Ireland play the first of their four ODI matches against Afghanistan on Saturday, before facing Scotland on Monday. Their World Cup campaign begins on February 16th against the West Indies in Nelson, New Zealand.
IRELAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
William Porterfield (Warwickshire, capt ), Andrew Balbirnie (Middlesex), Peter Chase (Malahide), 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).
WORLD CUP FIXTURES
Feb 10 v Scotland (warm-up), Sydney
Feb 12 v Bangladesh (warm-up) Sydney
Feb 16 v West Indies, Nelson
Feb 25 v UAE, Brisbane
March 3 v South Africa, Canberra
March 7 v Zimbabwe, Hobart
March 10 v India, Hamilton
March 15 v Pakistan, Adelaide
March 18-21 Quarter finals
March 24-26 Semi-finals
March 29 Final
