With a nine-day turnaround between the win against West Indies and Wednesday’s Pool B outing against the UAE, Ireland’s cricketers have had plenty of time for contemplation.
A possible spot of cabin fever will have seen the dartboard take a pounding as darts is now the pastime of choice among the squad. With the heavy rain that came in with Cyclone Marcia, even training has been an indoor pursuit.
Brisbane was spared the worst of the storm, but Saturday’s Pool A clash between Australia and Bangladesh fell victim as over 3½ inches of rain fell around the Woolloongabba area of the city. The heavy rains have been moving away slowly, with Wednesday’s forecast being for sunny conditions with temperatures touching 30 degrees.
The amount of rain that has hit the Gabba ground is likely to be taken into account when it comes to the toss in Wednesday’s match, with Ireland’s ability to chase down runs being weighed up against the stat that teams batting first in Pool B in the six games so far average more than 300.
The Pool B table is set to have a different look by the time Ireland return to action, with the possibility that West Indies could be on top if they can put away Zimbabwe on Tuesday in the same fashion they dispatched Pakistan in Christchurch on Saturday.
Despite Chris Gayle failing again at the top of the order, West Indies topped 300 when batting first, with Andre Russell again looking wasted at number 8 as he smashed an unbeaten 42 off just 13 balls in a total of 310 for six.
There would be no repeat of the Ireland defeat in Nelson as Jerome Taylor took two wickets in the first over as Pakistan were rolled over for just 160 to give a considerable boost to West Indies' net run rate.
India are on top of Pool B after their dismantling of South Africa by 130 runs in front of 86,000 supporters at the MCG, and MS Dhoni’s team have the look of a side gearing up for a serious defence of the crown they won on home soil in 2011.
