2021 ICC T20 World Cup Team Preview: Ireland
The 12th-ranked team in the ICC T20 rankings, Ireland holds the ability to crush each opponent they would play. If you are a keen lover of the game cricket, you can recall how they have thrashed teams like Pakistan, England, and West Indies in the ICC events. So, the capability and potential of the Irish Team can neither be denied nor ignored.
Ireland has delivered remarkable performances in ICC World cup campaigns. In 2007, an inaugural tournament for green men, they beat Bangladesh team and showed the world what they could do. However, after the edition of the 2007 T20 World cup, Ireland could not qualify for the next stages in the next tournaments, missing out on the net-run rate in 2014. Let’s preview their team to check out that if they can qualify for this time.
Group A
They have been placed in a group among Sri Lanka, Namibia, and the Netherlands. They will have to produce a great show to qualify for the super 12. The thrilling and cracking force will kickstart their World cup journey against Netherlands. It should be noted that Ireland will play two official warm-up matches against Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea.
If we talk about the squad of team Ireland, they have a mixture of experienced and young players. Players who have proved their worth and have showcased their talents to the world. Surprisingly, the Irish team is also carrying an uncapped player.
Led by an inspiring leader and top-notch batter, Andrew Balbirnie, and under the direction of coach Graham Ford, Team Ireland has the X factor of coming out victorious in Round 1. Also, it makes Ireland a formidable force in the upcoming T20 World cup.
Experienced and nous batters like Kevin O’Brien, Paul Stirling, and the skipper himself carry the ability to change the game in no time. The former also holds the record for the fastest ODI century in the ICC World Cup. Harry Tector, a young and solid middle-order batter, can provide support and strength if openers fail to score. Tector has played 25 T20I so far and scored 413 runs at the strike rate of 127.86.
Gareth Delany, batting allrounder, can provide a healthy score with his bat and rattle up opponents with his leg-break googly. Moreover, the two wicket-keeper batters, Neil Rock and Lorcan Tucker, are young but talented enough to knock any bowling line-up down.
Coming towards the seamers, Mark Adair, Joshua Little, Barry Mccarthy, and Craig young are a mixture of young and experienced fast bowlers. Adair played 24 T20I for Ireland and took 42 wickets. However, Joshua Little, Barry Mccarthy, and Craig Young played 21, 15, and 38 T20I.
Ireland’s team is studded with allrounders, who can get crucial wickets and score heavy and quick scores. George Dockrell, an experienced slow-arm spinner, showed a brilliant show in the 2010 World cup and grabbed 76 wickets. Moreover, names like Shane Getkate, Simi Singh, and Curtis Campher can add a valuable stand to their team.
Since the pitches of the UAE are sluggish and spinning, there is an absolute need to carry spinners. Andrew McBrine, Ben White, and uncapped Graham Kennedy are the specialist spinners for Andrew Balbirnie men.
So, the squad of Ireland team looks quite balanced and can bamboozle any opponent. This team is courageous, tough as nails, and can smack down any opponent when it is their day.
Fixtures:
18 October: v Netherlands, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
20 October: v United Arab Emirates, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
22 October: v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Full squad: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Graham Kennedy, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White and Craig Young.
