 Boyd Rankin is recovering from a foot injury |
Ireland coach Phil Simmons says bowler Boyd Rankin is on track to be fully fit for next year's Cricket World Cup. Regan West is still recovering from shoulder operations and will undergo a final fitness assessment before the 15-man squad is finalised on 19 January. Both men are named in Ireland's initial 22-man panel, with Craig Young named as cover for foot injury victim Rankin. Ed Joyce is included in the preliminary squad and is one of seven players currently attached to English counties. Joyce has been granted special dispensation by the ICC to play for Ireland in the tournament. Simmons says he remains "hopeful" that West will be able to take part in the showpiece of the cricketing calendar. Eight of the players named were part of the Irish panel which took part in the 2007 50-over World Cup in the West Indies. "There are no surprises in the 22, as we've had a fairly settled squad this past year," said Simmons. "Our training camp in India last month went well and it was fantastic preparation for the conditions which we'll be facing when the tournament starts. "There's a lot of experience in the squad, but that's balanced by the fact we've got a few exciting youngsters as well. "Both Paul Stirling and George Dockrell have turned in some great performances in 2010, and the World Cup will be a great stage for them." The tournament runs from 19 February to 2 April, with Ireland beginning their campaign against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 25 February. Ireland will travel to Dubai in January for a pre World Cup training camp, and have scheduled warm-up games against New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Nagpur. Ireland have been drawn in a group alongside Bangladesh, India, England, the Netherlands, South Africa and West Indies.
Ireland squad: William Porterfield (Warwickshire) (Captain), Andre Botha (North County), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Leinster), Phil Eaglestone (Strabane), Allan Eastwood (Pembroke), James Hall (Waringstown), Trent Johnston (Railway Union), Nigel Jones (Civil Service North), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Rory McCann (Instonians), John Mooney (North County), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Northants), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Albert van der Merwe (The Hills), Regan West (Civil Service North), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Andrew White (Instonians), Craig Young (Sussex)
|
Bookmark with:
What are these?