Ireland helped by local contacts
Sometimes it helps to have friends in high places and Ireland's preparations for the World Cricket League in Nairobi next week have certainly benefited from having a coach who hails from South Africa
Cricinfo staff
22-Jan-2007
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Adrian Birrell played for several seasons with Eastern Province as a legspinner before coaching them on his way towards the Ireland job in 2001. Having spent a week or so training and netting in Port Elizabeth the players have been eager for some match practice. Birrell's response has been to call in a few favours and he has lined up four games against an Eastern Province XI, including a day/night game at St George's Park.
Niall O'Brien, the wicketkeeper-batsman, says the preparations could not have gone better. "Everything's going smoothly at the moment, we are gearing up to the World Cricket League with these practice matches and then hopefully we'll be peaking in Nairobi and stay that way for the World Cup in the West Indies.
"This time we have spent in South Africa has been really beneficial. Adi [Birrell] is getting us into good shape so that we will hit the ground running in Kenya and put in a strong performance against Scotland in our first game.
"If we can win that that will set us up nicely and we'll be trying hard to win the league or at least get to the final so that we qualify for the Twenty20 [World Championships in South Africa in September]."
The Irish will be led by seam-bowling allrounder Trent Johnston, who learned his cricket in New South Wales, but many years ago pledged his future with his adopted country. Birrell has demanded that every player works hard on his fielding and it has batting ability spread throughout the squad, even among players who can expect to be batting at nine, ten and eleven.
Squad Trent Johnston (capt), Andre Botha, Jeremy Bray, Kenny Carroll, Eoin Morgan, William Porterfield, Kyle McCallan, Peter Gillespie, Andrew White, David Langford-Smith, Niall O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Mooney, John Mooney.