Experienced Irish squad named for historic Test match against Pakistan

[Abdullah719]

Ireland have named a very experienced squad for their historic, first ever Test match, which takes place in Dublin next week.

Pakistan will be Ireland's first opponents in the longer form of the game as Graham Ford's side make their first foray into five-day cricket.

Ford has named a 14-man squad for the exciting encounter, which will take place from 11-15 May at the Malahide Cricket Ground in north Dublin.

William Porterfield will, as expected, captain the side, while experienced campaigners Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien, Kevin O'Briem, Paul Stirling and Boyd Rankin have all been included in the squad.

Rankin, of course, has Test experience, having featured for England during the 2013-14 Ashes tour in Australia, while Joyce was also a member of a touring Ashes squad in 2006-07 but did not feature in any of the five tests for England.

The final playing eleven will be named on the morning of the Test match.

Ireland squad to face Pakistan: William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, Ed Joyce, Tyrone Kane, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Boyd Rankin, Nathan Smith, Paul Stirling, James Shannon, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/20...ed-irish-squad-named-for-historic-test-match/

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pretty experienced team and with early may conditions as well, Ireland should fancy their chances of winning this test.

 

[Forum363]

Pretty experienced team and with early may conditions as well, Ireland should fancy their chances of winning this test.

...Pretty experienced team.. who is playing their first ever test match. Nice oxymoron there. Ireland have not got a realistic chance in this match regardless of conditions. They might have the odd brilliant session, but will not be able to sustain it over five days, if the match lasts that long. It would be nothing short of a huge upset should they manage to win.

Ofcourse Ireland as a team need to go into the match with a positive mindset but 'fancy their chances of winning' is far too optimistic.

 

[introvert]

Murtag can be threatening with new ball

 

[Hermoine Green]

Pakistan has the ability to make Ireland happy

 

[hadi123]

Pakistan really can't afford to get complacent.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Pretty experienced team and with early may conditions as well, Ireland should fancy their chances of winning this test.

Nonsense.

1) A lot of players will be retiring after this summer. Experienced yes but arguably past it too. Joyce will likely retire as soon as the match is over. Game is about giving those players the recognition they deserve.

2) We've never ever played 5 day cricket before, ever.

3) Somerset annihilated us two weeks ago.

If we play our hearts out and rise to the occasion and Pakistan have a stinker then potentially the impossible may happen, can never rule that out with any Ireland team. But if this match goes to 4 days or we lose by less than an innings this will be considered by nearly all Irish fans to be a resounding success. Dont underestimate how difficult Test cricket is for new entrants.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Nonsense.

1) A lot of players will be retiring after this summer. Experienced yes but arguably past it too. Joyce will likely retire as soon as the match is over. Game is about giving those players the recognition they deserve.

2) We've never ever played 5 day cricket before, ever.

3) Somerset annihilated us two weeks ago.

If we play our hearts out and rise to the occasion and Pakistan have a stinker then potentially the impossible may happen, can never rule that out with any Ireland team. But if this match goes to 4 days or we lose by less than an innings this will be considered by nearly all Irish fans to be a resounding success. Dont underestimate how difficult Test cricket is for new entrants.

Kent had Pakistan under the pump with their 1st choice bowling rested, cheer up man

 

[aloo paratha]

Game will be all about the bowling, batting of both teams is hopeless.

 

[Hawkeye]

Nonsense.

1) A lot of players will be retiring after this summer. Experienced yes but arguably past it too. Joyce will likely retire as soon as the match is over. Game is about giving those players the recognition they deserve.

2) We've never ever played 5 day cricket before, ever.

3) Somerset annihilated us two weeks ago.

If we play our hearts out and rise to the occasion and Pakistan have a stinker then potentially the impossible may happen, can never rule that out with any Ireland team. But if this match goes to 4 days or we lose by less than an innings this will be considered by nearly all Irish fans to be a resounding success. Dont underestimate how difficult Test cricket is for new entrants.

Lol.

Get your pacers to swing the ball. Watch our team get bundled up for 100 runs. Chase that down, give a strong lead, you win.

 

[Third_Umpire]

Yes, Pakistan are unpredictable, can struggle against moving ball, batting sucks, blah blah.... but this should be a no-contest. I'm sure Ireland are a fine team but they are playing their first test match ever. Don't think they'll get close.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

My bet is that we'll see a few hijinks from the Pakistani team, but they'll win.

One, because it's the Pakistani team, always mercurial.

And two, Pakistan's in an unenviable position. If they win, it'll be like "it's only Ireland". If they draw, it'll be like a loss. So I expect some pressure.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Anything can be happened by the unpredictable pak team... They can lose to ireland out of nowhere.. Though pak win has the 99% possibility

 

[Mueez]

Pakistan has the ability to make Ireland happy

....
Bob Woolmer must be cursing you...

 

[Slim]

Expecting Babar azam to cash on the minnows and Pakistan to thrash ireland to oblivion.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

It'll be a good game. That's assured.

Practice matches are practice. I'm sure our team will bring it on when the real thing starts

 

[Major]

what ever happened to george dockrell

that guy was once taunted to be a good spinner that he almost got selected for England

 

[shane]

The bookies definitely don't think a Pakistan win is a formality.

 

[Lefthanded]

It's Ireland's MisYou XI.

Whenever Pakistan play Ireland, in any format, only a fool would guarantee a Pakistan win.

As a spectator and cricket lover, I hope it's a tight and compelling Test, but as a Pakistani I want a dominant victory to allay some fears before the English Tests.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

What the hell happened to George Dockrell?

Murtagh and Rankin could get our top order in trouble. I do not expect much from their batting though. Most of them are handy T20 players.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

What the hell happened to George Dockrell?

Murtagh and Rankin could get our top order in trouble. I do not expect much from their batting though. Most of them are handy T20 players.

Dockrell has lost his edge completely I'm afraid. Down to several factors

1) Absolutely zero variation to his bowling. Zero
2) Teams pick him more easily now that he's a known player
3) Heard some people say he had a growth spurt after the 2011 WC which affected his bowling angle.
4) Honestly his batting has improved signifcantly, at the expense of his bowling though.

And no offence but your last sentence is as factually correct as me saying Rafatullah is a young upcomer. Stirling and Kevin aside our batsmen are absolutely dreadful at t20 cricket

 

[shane]

I hope the weather forecast is wrong but, by the looks of it, we will be lucky to get a session's play.

 

[Tabishbeigh]

Is there any chance that I can watch the test match in India ?

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Ed Joyce has been one of the best batters not to have played Test Cricket till now. That would hopefully end come the inaugral Test. He has probably been among the top 5 batters in England County for last 10 years I think.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Niall O'Brien: 'We believe we can beat Pakistan'

If you have followed Ireland cricket closely, the O’Brien brothers — Niall and Kevin - would've been a recurring feature; the duo being the country's most consistent performers over the last decade.

Who can forget the 2011 World Cup, where Kevin slammed a 63-ball 113 to script a famous three-wicket win over England in Bengaluru!

With Ireland gearing up for its Test debut against Pakistan — which begins at the Malahide in Dublin from Friday — Niall believes that his team has a chance of upsetting the sub-continent giant in the longer format.

In a free-wheeling chat with Sportstar, Niall opens up on a range of issues…

After decades of wait, the dream of playing a Test match finally comes true. How does it feel?

It’s a wonderful feeling. A lot of hard work; ups and downs, good and bad times have gone into it. So, it will be a proud day for me and my family.

From an affiliate member to a Test playing nation, how challenging has the journey been for the cricketers?

Being an associate (member) cricketer and now being a full-member doesn’t feel any different. I don’t look at these things in a class system. I just see cricketers as cricketers.

With the ball set to get rolling in the Test format, do you feel the real challenge begins now?

So much work has gone into getting us here. But the hard work needs to continue so that we do ourselves and our country justice.

Taking on Pakistan, a team which you beat in the World Cup in 2007, how excited are the boys?

I love playing against Pakistan. Their players are so talented and their supporters so lively. But they are unpredictable which gives us a chance.

What would the team’s aim be in the first Test?

Our aim is to win the game and we believe we can do it.

The Irish team has a large group of highly experienced cricketers. Do you think this mix of youth and experience will help?

Experience will be the key for us to draw on in the five days.

From 2019, the Irish cricketers will be considered as ‘overseas’ cricketers in English county. How do you see this?

I think it’s unfortunate for the younger lads. I played county cricket for 14 years and learnt my trade there. But now, we must develop our own competition.

At a time when Ireland is en route to its Test debut, does its omission from next year’s World Cup hurt you?

Missing the World Cup will hurt, but as of now I am not thinking about it.

In this long journey, what has been the high point for Ireland cricket?

My fondest memories are playing in World Cups and winning big games with my friends.

Lastly, in the next few years, where do you want to see Ireland cricket?

I would love to see Ireland as a competitive Test nation and have a really striving domestic scene.

http://www.sportstarlive.com/cricke...ieve-we-can-beat-pakistan/article23811548.ece

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[MenInG]

Cricket Ireland have welcomed news that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are ready to offer an invite to Ireland to tour the country later this year.

Pakistan will provide the opposition for Ireland’s historic first Test match in Malahide later this week, but the two sides could be seeing a lot more of each other in the coming months according to reports from Pakistan.

Pakistan have not hosted a Test match in the country since 2009, when six security men and two civilians died in a terrorist attack targeting the visiting Sri Lankan team buses in Lahore, with players and match officials also suffering injuries.

Since then, Pakistan have played their home matches in the United Arab Emirates, with a couple of one-day and T20 series taking place in Pakistan since 2015.

Zimbabwe were the first international side to return, in a three-match one-day international series in Lahore in 2015, while Sri Lanka made their return in September last year for three T20 internationals in the same city.

At the beginning of April this year, the West Indies played three T20 internationals in Karachi, losing 3-0, while the final and playoffs of the Pakistan Super League, theat includes international players, have been played in the country.

Ireland were in talks to travel to Pakistan in 2014 for a tour before a terrorist group aligned to al-Qaeda launched an attack on Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, in which 36 people were killed, including all 10 attackers.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ot...t-to-invite-ireland-for-winter-tour-1.3488241

 

[giri26]

'It's as big as it gets for cricket people in Ireland' - Ger Siggins

Former Ireland cricket captain Trent Johnston has acknowledged that he feels proud to have played a 'little part 'in Ireland finally becoming a test nation.

Irish cricket faces into a historic weekend as the country plays its first ever Test Match against visiting Pakistan in Malahide.

It was Pakistan who Ireland famously beat in the 2007 World Cup, the match which really kick-started Irish cricket's rise in the modern era.

Johnston hit the winning six on that St. Patrick's Day against Pakistan.

While Ireland have appeared to regress in the past couple of years in the one-day game - after years of consistent over-achievement - Johnston told RTÉ 2fm's Game On that feels Ireland could cause an upset against an inexperienced Pakistan side.

"I suppose the word 'pride' would come to mind and knowing that you probably played a little part in what's gone on out there. It'll be great to see the 11 guys going out there and hopefully having Pakistan 70/4 for at lunch.

"A lot of people have done a lot of hard work over the last 11 or 12 years to get to this stage, you know, players, coaches, administrative staff, volunteers.

"For all those people all over Ireland, it's a celebration for them. And it's a pat on the back to see where we've come to now.

"It's going to be an exciting day on Friday and I can see another upset happening. Pakistan have come over with a very experienced team. There could be five or six guys who're making their debut for them. So, I think we've a massive chance of winning these games in Malahide. If things do go our way, don't be surprised if Ireland win these weekend."

Johnston was joined on the programme by journalist and cricket historian Ger Siggins who has done much raise the profile of the game in Ireland over the past few decades.

"It's as big as it gets for cricket people. They've been playing test cricket for 150 years and Ireland have only just been allowed to play it. It's a bit like FIFA decided they could only play on the public parks for years. And then they allowed them play 5-a-side. And then they allowed them play on the big pitch.

"It'll be an emotional time. To watch a sport that I grew to love 40 years ago from where it was to where it will be. One of the things I'll think about are the hacks, the journalists I worked with over the years, people like Sean Pender and Carl Johnston who just aren't there.

"There's going to be a hundred former players there who served their time in the trenches and are all entitled to a bit of the glory of being a test nation."

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/20...big-as-it-gets-for-cricket-people-in-ireland/

 

[UN talkz]

Nathan Smith, Ireland's 22-year-old fast bowler, has been ruled out of the team's historic first Test against Pakistan with a side strain.

Craig Young, the fast bowler, has been called in as Smith's replacement.

Smith, who is uncapped in all formats, could not practise in the training session on Wednesday 9 May and has been withdrawn from the squad.

Young, 28, has played 13 one-day internationals and 15 Twenty20 Internationals for Ireland and made his international debut in 2014. He has 27 ODI wickets and 10 T20I wickets in addition to 43 wickets from 10 first-class matches at 23.23.

Young was part of Ireland's squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Barry McCarthy, one of those unlucky to miss out on selection initially, picked up an injury in his latest county match for Durham, thus ruling him out of contention to replace Smith, Cricket Ireland said.

Ireland, who were granted Test status last year, will play their first Test against Pakistan in Dublin from Friday 11 May.

They are also scheduled to play two T20Is against India on 27 June and 29 June.

Ireland squad for the one-off Test against Pakistan: William Porterfield (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Ed Joyce, Tyrone Kane, Andrew McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien (wk), Boyd Rankin, James Shannon, Craig Young, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson (wk)

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/685335

 

[Sami92]

Looking forward to the batting of Ed Joyce.

Whoever wins the toss should bowl first with the aim of swinging the ball.

 

[DeadBall]

Ireland’s Test debut the fruition of a long-term ambition

David Richardson: The Ireland cricketers are writing their country’s sporting history and will be remembered for many years to come.

Friday 11 May 2018 is a day that will go down in the cricket history books, marking the first day Ireland stepped onto the field of play in a Test match. Bangladesh were the last team to make a Test debut 17 and a half years ago and now we will have two Test debutants – Ireland and Afghanistan – in quick succession.

It will be a very special day for everyone connected with the game in Ireland and the fruition of a long-term ambition to play Test cricket. Before a ball has even been bowled, the sense of anticipation and excitement has been growing all week. Well wishes for Ireland coming in from around the world of cricket, four-page pullout supplements in national newspapers and even Test cricketers-to-be bringing out tea for the hordes of journalists at Malahide.

There is nothing more special as a cricketer than to make your Test debut. It is 26 years ago that I made mine, against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1992, but I remember almost every detail as if it were yesterday.

I cherish that Test match and the others that followed and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that way about the longest form of the game. We are blessed in our sport to have three fantastic formats and with that comes the challenge for players of where to place their focus, but this week has reminded me of the importance of Test cricket in that mix.

It is the ultimate test and beauty of the game where players have to demonstrate complete cricketing ability. It’s a test of mental strength, strategy, technique and stamina where the story of the game can ebb and flow.

It is so different to the theatre of the one-day game or the spectacle that is T20 cricket, and that is ok. We need to celebrate what is different about each format and understand that they each have a role to play in our sport.

William Porterfield has the honour of becoming the first man to captain Ireland in Test cricket William Porterfield has the honour of becoming the first man to captain Ireland in Test cricket

T20 international cricket is the way we will grow the sport globally, there are more T20 domestic leagues than there are 50 over leagues so we need to grow the international game in this format, making it as easy as possible for more countries to compete.

The recent decision to award all nations T20I status, simplify requirements around staging international games and moving the 16 team ICC World T20 to a bi-annual event are all part of this. T20 is also the way to grow our global fan base, giving new fans a format that is easy to connect with and understand. This is where sport meets entertainment.

One-Day International cricket is all the best of cricket in one day, there is something for everyone and it can engage a spectrum of fans from traditionalists to mainstream. It also provides the strongest economic legacy for the game enabling us to invest further in the future of cricket.

Test cricket is perhaps for the connoisseur, those who maybe started out watching red-ball cricket – the more traditional audience. But it also provides a newer, younger audience with the chance to deepen their engagement with the game and that is what we’ve been seeing this week as the excitement has been building in Ireland. Fans who have supported the Irish team in the shorter formats of the game will turn out in force to watch this historic occasion. I’d like to think they’ll leave Malahide, fans of Test cricket as well as ODIs and T20Is.

On behalf of everyone here at the ICC, and I’m sure in the world of cricket, I would like to wish the Ireland team all the very best over the coming days. You are writing your country’s sporting history and will be remembered for many years to come. The game will, I’m sure, fly by, but be sure to savour every moment and most importantly of all enjoy it. After all we don’t work cricket, we play cricket.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/685420