Ireland – A team with a mission in the ICC W T-20, 2010 West Indies

Apr 25, 2010 Sports

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By Colin E. H. Croft

Ireland plays cricket as was played in the Caribbean in 1970’s and 1980’s; with gusto, tremendous determination and the demeanor of a team with real love of the cricket game.
Team manager, Roy Torrens, a massive man of great bonhomie, reminded me thusly: “We can compete very favourably with any team in having fun, with our Irish reputation. However, when it comes to our cricket, we take that ultra seriously indeed, always!”
“I just love the West Indies. We started our adventure here in 2007. Can we dare to suggest that we can do at least the same again, or better? No longer is Ireland just fodder. No longer are we content to be in the Super 8’s. We expect to progress further.” “Off-spinner Kyle Mc Callum is a great loss from 2007. Left-arm spinner Reagan West had an operation recently and is not here now.”
“They could not get anyone else to do this manager’s job, so they gave it to me. I have had six tremendous years. This job can be quite stressful, but to get up in the commentary box, and work with you guys, as I remember very fondly doing in 2007, was a magnificent experience, one that I hope can be repeated again this time around.”
Ireland’s coach, former T&T and West Indies all-rounder, Phil Simmons, is one of the most intense cricketers ever, with Vivian Richards, Alan Border and Jimmy Adams.
Torrens and Simmons are both built like the proverbial “Big Truck” of Machel Montano’s calypso. If they had played rugby, anyone they had hit would have remembered it, after recovering from the concussions weeks later.
Their cricketing skills were similar too. Both would have been great hits, making a killing in the T-20’s format!
‘Simmo’ is 100% for Ireland: “There are no divided loyalties. I am totally Irish for this tournament. It is great to be playing against the West Indies, and for the guys in our squad, too, it is great to be playing against England, in our first two games. We are learning more of how to play and improve our cricket at the international level. After the recent experiences, we must tool and oil our improvement for the next T-20 games”
“I think that I would have enjoyed playing T-20, as I always enjoyed playing cricket. I do not lament on past situations. It is not there, but I enjoy watching it.”
“We did not win the qualifying tournament, losing to Afghanistan. They played very well. We should not have lost to them in the final, but we did not play well on the day.”
“We have a 17 year old and a 19 year old. Most of the guys are around 25 years old. I have no problem with the team or age balance. We might be a bit heavy on the batting but most of them also bowl. I think that we are okay for T-20’s.”
“Coaching is not difficult. It is about making the players understand what they are capable of, using whatever talent they have to the fullest, making sure that they believe in themselves. That is easy, as these guys recognize that they can compete with any team.”
“I wish those that go to England, the best. You cannot fight the mighty dollar, or pound. Those who went to England did not go for the money, but for opportunity and ambition, to play regular ODI’s and even Test cricket. I cannot take that away from them. I hope that we can soon get to that stage, to pay our fellows well, and keep them.”
Torrens and Simmons, along with the very diminutive captain, William Porterfield, perhaps to balance out the size of the manager and coach, have the very difficult task of rejuvenating Irish luck and industry that were so evident in the ICC 2007 World Cup.
Ireland’s efforts have not gone well so far. They lost all games against a West Indies XI last week, and suffered the ignominy of being dismissed for less than 100 (90 all out) by T & T, in a T-20 practice game; a 9-wickets loss to the Caribbean T-20 champions.
Porterfield is still upbeat: “I have captained all age groups for Ireland. This is a new challenge for me and my team. It was great to get away from the cold of Ireland before the WT-20 2010 starts. We have certainly enjoyed the time so far in the Caribbean.”
“Our efforts have improved much. Our bowlers have hit their straps, running well. Our batsmen are making good progress. In Jamaica, we just came up slightly short”
“We have set our sights on improving on our 2007 efforts. We have great memories. I am sure that we will have positives to take home after this WT-20. Our No. 12 rating in the (12-team) tournament does not bother us. We look forward to getting stuck in”
“It has been very difficult losing players like Eoin Morgan, now with England, but we have new players too who are learning and improving. I think that we are close to getting to the ICC Future Tours Program, guaranteed ODI’s and T-20’s, but Test cricket is a few years off. We have more steps to take to get there, but at least we are talking about it.”
“17 year old George Dockwell played a crucial role in our qualification. 18 year old Paul Sterling has come from the Under-19 World Cup, but he is our most talented batsman. People like Trent Johnston and Andre Botha bring much experience to the side.”
In the 2007 World Cup, Ireland nearly beat South Africa and beat Canada. They tied Zimbabwe, beat Pakistan, one of the greatest upsets then, with Bangladesh also beating India. Now, Ireland’s first two games are against hosts West Indies and then England.
Porterfield is philosophical: “Obviously, West Indies is a big game. We expect a full house in Guyana. Anyone can beat anyone in this group. In the ICC 2007 World Cup and T-20 last year, we got to the Super 8’s. That is the least that we can do.”
“Big Roy” is positive: “T-20’s brings the teams more into par. We respect the West Indies and England. We do not fear them. We will play with that great Irish smile. I warn you, watch this space! After the West Indies, the crowd picked us as their 2nd favorites in 2007. We hope that when we get back to Guyana, that support will be there again. We are probably a better squad, certainly a younger squad, than in 2007.
The other teams now know about us, so we do not have that shock factor anymore, but we have more experience, so I am looking forward to us doing very well indeed.”
Simmons is practical: “We know that we need to win one of the first two games to progress, maybe even win both games. We could also hope that whomsoever we beat lose their 2nd game. We always play to win.”
Whatever happens in Guyana and onwards in the ICC WT-20 2010, expect Ireland to be in the thick of the excitement. They may even provide an upset or several.

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