BBC SPORT | N Ireland | Ireland missing top players

Ireland's cricketers face a tough test on Wednesday in their third round C&G Trophy tie against Nottinghamshire at Clontarf.

New coach Adrian Birell has been forced to name a weakened side for his first competitive match.

There are no overseas professionals being named in the Irish line-up, while Ed Joyce and Andre Botha are also missing.

Batsman Joyce is tied up with Middlesex and Botha is injured.

Not many will expect Ireland to beat Notts, who travel to Dublin in winning form after clinching their second victory in this season's Frizzell County Championship on Monday.

They reached their target of 230 at Trent Bridge in just 52.5 overs to beat Northamptonshire by seven wickets.

Gallian scored 111 not out for Notts in their win over Northants on Monday.
Notts captain Jason Gallian

Jason Gallian played a true captain's innings for Notts, scoring an unbeaten 111 as his team raced to 231 for three.

He and Usman Afzaal (88) put on 183 for the third wicket after Nottinghamshire had slumped to five for two in the early stages of their reply.

Medium pacer Andrew Harris recorded the best bowling figures for Notts, taking seven for 54 in 11 overs.

Ballymena's pace bowler Adrian McCoubrey will be important for Ireland as he is the mainstay of their pace attack.

But against such quality full-time players and having not played much cricket this season due to bad weather, a respectable defeat may well be the best Birell's side can hope for.

Ireland team: J Molins (capt), P Davy (Pembroke), P Gillespie (Strabane), D Heasley (Glendermott), K McCallan (Cliftonville), A McCoubrey (Ballymena), J McGonigle (Donemana), P Mooney (North County), G Neely (Glendermott), A Patterson (Cliftonville), A White (North Down). Twelth man: W Porterfield (Donemana).


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