Ireland – Taking the World by Storm

The World T20 is fast approaching. In just two weeks time, Ireland will set out their campaign to reach the main draw of the tournament. Before that, they face the tricky Qualifier stage. In this blog I just want to take a look at Ireland’s squad, how I’d like to see them line-up and the teams that stand in their way.

 

Form

Ireland’s form leading up to the World T20 is a little bit indifferent. Following a huge victory over Papua New Guinea in the Inter Continental Cup, Ireland stuttered through to a 2-1 T20I series victory, followed by a drawn series versus the UAE. That said, the pitches in Townsville were a little unpredictable, while UAE are a team on the up at the moment. Ireland did also use the two series as a means of testing out a number of different combinations as a means of identifying their best team.

Personally, I think this will only serve as an even bigger incentive for the lads. The older players in the squad will recognise that this may be the last ICC world tournament that they are involved in. The reduction of the size of the World Cup effectively removes Ireland from featuring in the 2019 edition, while the ICC have announced that the World T20 will be played every 4 years rather than every 2, after this edition. Players such as Tim Murtagh and Niall O’Brien will be looking to leave their mark.

Outside of the Irish camp, the World T20 2016 provides the perfect platform for the Associate countries to make a statement to the ICC.

The Squad

Ireland’s biggest asset is their experience. Despite their Associate status, the squad boasts 5 players who are featuring in their fifth tournament. William Porterfield is also the second longest standing captain in the tournament. Ireland also have the benefit of fielding a number of players with county cricket experience.

As I mentioned above, the T20 series’ against PNG and UAE served as a chance for the selectors to get a look at a number of players and make their final plans for the tournament qualifiers.

My XI: Porterfield, Stirling, Balbirnie, K O’Brien, N O’Brien, Wilson, McBrine, Sorensen, Murtagh, Dockrell, Rankin

Expected XI: Porterfield, Stirling, Balbirnie, K O’Brien, N O’Brien, Wilson, Thompson, Sorensen, Murtagh, Dockrell, Rankin

Depending on how the surface plays, McBrine may miss out for either Stuart Poyntner or Stuart Thompson. A lot will depend on how the pitches are prepared and if there is real spin on option.

 

Ireland’s Key Men

George Dockrell

There isn’t much to say about George Dockrell that hasn’t been said. Dockrell has a very good record in India, managing to pick up a number of key wickets in the 2011 World Cup. Since breaking into the Irish team aged just 17, Dockrell has been one of the best bowlers in the Associate game. Despite being aged just 23 years old, he is featuring in his 3^rd World T20 tournament. If the pitches offer any spin, Dockrell will pose a potent threat for any bowler. The real test will be against the Bangladeshi batmen, who have the most experience against spin.

Paul Stirling

If any man in the Irish team can lead Ireland to a big score it’s Paul Stirling. Sometimes criticised for trying to go too big too often, Stirling is exactly what Ireland need at the top of the order. If you look across the international game, so many teams have an ‘accumulator / big-hitter’ opening combo. Stirling’s bowling could also prove crucial for Ireland. If Ireland favour a 5 bowler strategy, there may be a need for Stirling to throw down a few overs. Even if he doesn’t pick up wickets, his economic bowling could be a much asset.

Boyd Rankin

The most dangerous bowler in Associate cricket. Rankin is exactly what Irish cricket has been missing for the last number of years, a genuine fast bowler. Ireland are blessed to have him back in the team. His bowling will trouble even the best batsmen. Ireland will need something special to knock over Bangladesh, Rankin might just be that something special. In the two T20I’s he’s featured in since returning to Irish cricket, Rankin has picked up impressive figures of 3/17 and 2/16.

Kevin O’Brien

William Porterfield may be the captain of the Irish team, but Kevin O’Brien is most definitely one of the leaders. A man who always leaves everything on the pitch, KOB epitomises Irish cricket. If KOB can repeat his heroics of the 2011 World Cup just once in the Qualifiers, Ireland will reach the main draw. Despite having a high score of just 42 in T20Is, his batting is the perfect middle order foil. His bowling can’t be underestimated either, as he showed by clawing the UAE back just last week. He doesn’t smash the ball into the pitch, but he can certainly help dry up the runs and frustrate a batsman.

 

The Draw

Unfortunately, Ireland have yet again been drawn in the more difficult qualifier group. That said, in previous ICC events, particularly the 2011 World Cup, Ireland proved that they weren’t set to be the group whipping boys. Ireland have however struggled somewhat in the shortest format of the game on the biggest stage. Their most memorable performances (Pakistan, England, West Indies, Zimbabwe) have all come in ODI matches.

Ireland have been drawn against the stronger of the two full-members, Bangladesh; Netherlands and Oman. All matches are bound to be crackers. Ireland have however been separated from the strongest (other) Associate team, Afghanistan.

The Location

All of Group A’s Qualifier Matches are set to be played in Himachal Pradesh Cricket Stadium in Dharamsala, the most Northerly stadium being used in the tournament. For anyone who has followed the IPL, Kings Punjab XI have played a number of games in the stadium. What stands out most is that the stadium is almost 1,500m above sea-level.

What does this mean? When you hit the ball, it stays hit!

The ground is a bit of a mystery, with just 8 IPL matches, a handful of ODI matches, only one single T20I game having been played in the stadium. Any match that I’ve watched in the stadium has favoured the batsmen. Some huge scores have been notched up in the ground. The only T20I (India vs. South Africa featured a whopping 399 runs). Pace off the ball could be a huge factor in preventing the batsmen from getting the ball away.

 

March 9^th vs. Oman

Oman are making their debut in the tournament. Oman have had a Nepalese like rise in Associate cricket. Despite being newcomers to the sport (debut in 2002), they have beaten both Afghanistan and the Netherlands on their way to the World T20 Qualifier. Their team is packed with spinning options.

Irish fans would have kept one eye on the Asia Cup Qualifier, with a hope of finding a few weaknesses in the Oman team. They performed admirably in two of their three matches, beating Hong Kong by 5 runs in a tense encounter, before losing to Afghanistan by 3 wickets. In their final match, Oman went down by 71 runs to the much fancied UAE side, who ultimately topped the group and qualified for the full tournament as a result.

Key batsman

The two openers are the best batsmen in the team. Zeeshan Maqsood finished the Asia Cup Qualifier with the 2^nd most runs, despite the team struggling overall. Pressure has been heaped on Maqsood with Jatinder Singh struggling of late. If Ireland can knock him over cheaply, Ireland should steamroll to a big victory.

Key bowler

This is the tricky bit. Oman don’t really have a single bowler who has stood head and shoulders above the other. They have a crop of spinners, who will prove effective if the pitches offer up anything. They’re best looking bowler however is a medium-pacer. Mehran Khan has twice picked up a 3 wicket-haul against Afghanistan, not a bad feat at all. I really feel like this is an attack that Ireland should look to target.

 

March 11^th vs. Bangladesh

Undoubtedly the hardest match in the whole Qualifier round. Afghanistan will have been very relieved to have avoided the Tigers. Looking at their form in the shorter formats over the last 12 months and you’d put them right up there with the big dogs in the tournament. What doesn’t exactly make good reading for any Irish fans is that Bangladesh have won their last 5 ODI series, including victories over Zimbabwe, South Africa, India and Pakistan. They seem to have the perfect balance, with Shakib in the middle order and Mortaza more than capable with the bat down the order. Unlike the Associate teams, knocking over the top order won’t be the breaking of the team.

As they’re currently playing in the Asia Cup, so I won’t want to write too much about them until I see how that tournament pans out.

Key batsman

There are a few to choose from, but it has to be Shakib Al Hasan. Luckily for Ireland, Shakib is struggling for form. In his last 10 T20 innings (for both Bangladesh & Karachi Kings), he has only scored one half century and has been dismissed for 20 of less 9 times.

Key bowler

Mustafizur Rahman has taken the world by storm. Mustafizur announced himself to the world with a 5 wicket-haul against India, which he followed up with an even better 6 wicker-haul. In ODIs he has 26 wickets across just 9 games, and 10 wickets across 8 T20Is. He bowls a consistent length, which will test even the best batsman.

 

March 13^th vs. Netherlands

Another World T20 Qualifier. Another final match against the Netherlands. The Netherlands are Ireland’s longest standing rival in Associate cricket. Memories of than game in Sylhet will stay with Irish cricket fans for a long, long time. Ireland had a chance to avenge that defeat in the Qualifiers last July, however they struggled to do so. The Netherlands are in a bit of a lull in international cricket, but they always seem to bring their best against the Irish.

The squad includes a number of established players in the International circuit. The loss of Ryan ten Doeschate, arguably the most gifted player to have featured for the Oranje, a few years back definitely hurt. Despite this losses, their squad is still mightily impressive. With players such as Borren, Bukhari, Tom, Cooper, Ben Cooper, Roelof van der Merwe, Michael Rippon and Stephan Myburgh, Ireland will need to be on the top of their game. Their batting is undoubtedly their strength.

Key batsman

When I first published this blog, I chose Stephan Myburgh as the man to watch, despite his indifferent form of late. Irish fans will remember his 63 off just 23 balls for a long, long time. However, this morning (25th February), it was announced that Tom Cooper had rejoined the Netherlands squad for the tournament, having previously ruled himself out of international cricket in order to focus on obtaining more lucrative domestic contracts. Like Myburgh, his form isn’t the best of late.

Key bowler

No competition, Roelof van der Merwe. Van der Merwe has an unbelievable about of experience. Having qualified for Netherlands in 2015, van der Merwe has also played for South Africa, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils and Brisbane Heat. His experience in Indian conditions could be a huge factor.

 

Verdict

What will it take for Ireland to qualify for the main draw? The least Ireland can hope for are two convincing wins and a narrow loss to Bangladesh, in the hope that either Oman or Netherlands can provide an upset against the Tigers. Irish fans will remember that Ireland were unfortunately eliminated from the 2015 World Cup on run-rate.

Oman – big win.

Bangladesh – it’ll take a massive performance, a slice of luck, but our lads are more than capable of pulling off an upset.

Netherlands – a much tighter game than the Oman match, a win which goes down to the wire.