Sunday 17 June 2012


The Most Key Members of the Irish Squad for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.


Paul Stirling: 


The most dangerous and exciting opener is Paul Stirling. A very strong and clean hitter of the cricket ball, he will leave nothing on the field. He will be more likely to strike a six down the ground first ball, rather than pat the ball towards off.

Most people will know him for scoring the 2nd fastest century of the last World Cup. While others might know him for his blistering play in the T20 WC Qualifiers this year. He scored 357 runs at an average of 44.62 with a hot strikerate of 157.26. While he was also profitable with the ball, picking up 9 wickets at an average of 17.44 with an economy of 5.56 and a strikerate of 20.

There is few boundaries outside of his reach and if he is to get going. Then it will go a long way to helping Ireland claim another Test nation scalp.

Ed Joyce:


Ed Joyce isn't the most attacking of batsmen in the Irish side. However he provides the calming influence to the batting that is needed. He is the anchor to the Irish side, with everyone batting around him. He is a classy left-handed batsman, the Irish Dravid. He will likely leave the big strokes to the O'Briens and the Stirling's of the team. He will rotate the strike and keep on end shut. Often in the past Ireland were succeptibale to collapses. While the introduction of Joyce has helped cease this from happening.

His T20 figures are very good, with a highest score of 78* at an average of 44.25. His strikerate of 99.43 is still quite low, however if he can anchor the role for Ireland. Then anything over 100 should be a sufficient addition to a good score.

Gary Wilson(wk)

Gary is one of the most improved cricketers for Ireland over recent years. Many times he was needed to provide a vital knock during the qualifiers. He had a very successful tournament with 238 runs scored, with a top score of 52* coming at an average of 39.66 with a strike rate of 115.53.

He's an aggressive batsman and clean hitter, he will be one of the most vital batsmen in our T20 squad. He's become very consistent and hopefully for Ireland, he can bring the form he showed in the qualifiers into the World Cup.


Niall O'Brien(wk):


After missing out on the T20 Qualifiers because of his participation in the Bangladesh Premier League.  With his decision to play for the BPL causing him to lose his spot in the side. He will be raring to show the Irish selectors what he can do again. He is comfortably the best player of spin in the Irish side and with the World Cup being held in Sri Lanka. Ireland will need to be on their guard to teams packing their squads with spinners.

He is a very strong hitter of the ball, while he also is a very talented keeper. One of the most underrated keepers in the game of cricket. Ireland will need Niall at his best to help guide their side. Much like he was able to do when he scored the vital knock of 72 vs Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup.

Boyd Rankin:


Boyd Rankin repersents the pace of the Irish side, with all respect to Johnston, Mooney and O'Brien. Rankin is the member of the side likely to bowl near to 90mph. He has improved vastly as a bowler in recent years. With his height and bounce, he will certainly cause trouble to batsmen. His recent figures for the T20 Qualifiers were quite brilliant. He picked up 15 wickets, at an average of 11.06 with an economy of 4.25 at a strikerate of 15.6. His best figures for the tournament were 4-9.

While pace isn't likely to always go too well on the surfaces in Sri Lanka. Rankin is capable of making a name for himself in the upcoming WC.

George Dockrell:


George Dockrell is the surprise package in the Irish bowling attack. He is only 19 years old and is one of the most exciting spinners in world cricket. In his short career to date, he's accumulate 206 wickets in all forms so far. With special notice to his T20I stats, where he's picked up 24 wickets, at an average of 11.79 with an economy of 5.28 and a strikerate of 13.3.

He's a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, who continues to impress for Ireland. With spin likely to make a huge part of the T20 WC, the overs by Dockrell will be vital to Ireland's cause.


Key Aggresive Opening Batsman - Paul Stirling
Key Batsman Gary Wilson
Key Middle Order Batsman - Niall O'Brien(wk)
Key Bowler - George Dockrell

While Ireland remains an outside for the World Cup. One scalp out of their two games could go a long way to helping them progress to the next round. These mentioned players are the most vital players in the side. Although Ireland will look to the experience of Trent Johnston and Alex Cusack and Kevin O'Brien to name a few.
With this World Cup being the last hurrah for Trent Johnston, he will want to go out on a high. This team doesn't go to the World Cup to make up the numbers. They firmly believe they can progress far into the tournament and possibly win it outright.

"Having watched Ireland play and also in training, and talked to the likes of Trent Johnston and Boyd Rankin, it's not hard to guess why they so consistently punch above their weight. If you could bottle the spirit within the camp, it would sell as well as Guinness or Bushmills. They're a tight unit, and take such joy in each other's successes." - Dileep Premachandra




2 comments:

  1. isn't dockrell 20?also kob's missing.btw good analytical article though

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  2. Great sum up of players all of them have talent to turn things around, Irish Cricket Team is getting exciting day by day I hope they will do some upsets again top sides.

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