Story Ireland Summer 2013: NZ Test - McCullum ton

[Aislabie]

Ireland Receive Test Status

Ireland, the leading Associate Member in world cricket has been given the opportunity for a trial period of playing Test cricket. The trial will assess whether their players, facilities and infrastructure are suitable for the rigours of top-flight cricket. As a result, the 2013 summer will see them playing their country's first two Test matches - one against Australia and one against New Zealand. They will also play two ODIs against each tourist and one against England.

This recognition has come sooner than Ireland could have hoped and may have a lot to do with the Bangladeshi T20 series in 2012 and Ireland's admirable performance in the Sri Lanka for the World T20. Despite winning just one of those five matches, a rain-affected game against the West Indies, and being knocked out of the competition on run-rate, Ireland also pushed Bangladesh to the last ball twice in their three encounters.

Warren Deutrom and Phil Simmons's master plan has come to fruition.​

The full fixture list can be seen here:

June 13th
Ireland v. Australia - 1st ODI at The Village, Malahide

June 16th
Ireland v. Australia - 2nd ODI at Stormont, Belfast

June 20th-24th
Ireland v. Australia - Test match at Clontarf, Dublin

July 6th-10th
Ireland v. New Zealand - Test Match at Stormont, Belfast

July 15th
Ireland v. New Zealand - 1st ODI at The Village, Malahide

July 19th
Ireland v. New Zealand - 2nd ODI at Clontarf, Dublin

September 3rd
Ireland v. England - Only ODI at The Village, Malahide


In addition to these fixtures, there is still the small matter of a tour of the Netherlands and a series against Scotland that are still to be finalised as part of the Intercontinental Cup programme. These matches are likely to take place after the New Zealand tour and before the England ODI.

But which players will tackle a summer of cricket that sees Ireland take on not one, but three Full Member opponents? Warren Deutrom has announced a central contract list of twelve leading Irish players who will presumably be the nucleus of the team: Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, William Porterfield (captain), Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Andrew White, Gary Wilson
​

 

[Aislabie]

Hello again, story section.

I know that I have been guilty in the past of leaving stories unfinished, and I am sorry about that. That is why I have taken on a much smaller task, which could involve as few as seven games. Hopefully, you can all stick with it, and I will get this one done for you all.

 

[Dipak]

Promising start. Looking forward to this.

 

[Aislabie]

Preview: Ireland v. Australia ODIs

Twelve months ago, on a rainy day in Belfast, Brett Lee tore the heart out of the top-order with top quality fast bowling. This time, Australia will meet Ireland in the brand new stadium in Malahide, and will be looking to inflict the defeat they threatened before the rain halted the game. Ireland, on the other hand, will be looking to inflict a shock result on the touring Australians who are in a period of transition, and may use this short series to find their best XI ahead of the Ashes.

The two teams will face off over two One Day Internationals:

June 13th
Ireland v. Australia - 1st ODI at The Village, Malahide

June 16th
Ireland v. Australia - 2nd ODI at Stormont, Belfast


Both teams have named fourteen-strong squads for the series. Australia will pe hoping that Peter Forrest can resurrect his ailing international career. After bursting onto the scene with a bang that rattled the Richter scale, his performances have plateaued, and he was dropped after a poor show against England. He will be wanting more than the 130 runs that his last 10 innings have brought him.

Ireland will be pinning much on the performance of Tim Murtagh. The skiddy quick bowler made his Ireland debut last time they played Australia, but didn't get a chance to do anything before the rain came. He then went wicketless against Afghanistan, and will be hoping to break his ODI-wicket-duck in this series. He also adds a useful option with some lusty lower-order hitting.

Tim Murtagh will want to improve on the indifferent start he has made in ODIs.​

The full squads are as follows:

Ireland (Form: WWLWW)
Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Ed Joyce, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, William Porterfield (captain), Boyd Rankin, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Andrew White, Gary Wilson

There are no surprises in this Irish squad: all twelve central contracted players made the cut as well as Sorensen, a reliable seamer with a good T20 record, and all-rounder John Mooney. There was no place for Andrew Poynter or Albert van der Merwe.

Australia (Form: LWLLW)
George Bailey, Dan Christian, Michael Clarke (captain), Ed Cowan, Pat Cummins, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Shane Watson

The Australian squad is slightly less than full strength: Mike Hussey is rested before his final Ashes series, and his place goes to solid Test opener Ed Cowan. Pat Cummins is reportedly back to full fitness, and Steve Smith has been given another chance to shine.
​

 

[Prithvi]

Good idea, and I'm sure you'll finish this.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Any chance Eoin Morgan can come back?

 

[Aislabie]

Any chance Eoin Morgan can come back?

That would be if they were successful in their trial period and got Test status permanently

 

[Aislabie]

Aussie Bowlers Put Ireland On the Back Foot

Team News: Ireland have picked what is quite possibly their stronget eleven for the first ODI. There was no place for Max Sorensen, to whom Tim Murtagh was preferred, while all-rounders Andrew White and John Mooney also failed to find places. Australia opted not to play batsmen Ed Cowan or David Hussey, and Pat Cummins has also been rested, but will play in the second match.

Australia's bowlers stormed into action in the opening RSA ODI at Malahide. Ben Hilfenhaus jumped straight out of the blocks to set Ireland reeling at 34 for two, with both Porterfield and Stirling back in the hutch. It wasn't long before Ed Joyce followed them, edging Dan Christian to Steve Smith at second slip. It was the job of the two 'keepers, Wilson and O'Brien senior, to rebuild after the shaky start. They did so slowly, accumulating runs at a snail's pace of less than three per over, Wilson in particular was unable to find his timing.

After eleven overs of blocking and prodding, Gary Wilson fell to the probing seam of Clint McKay. The old cricketing adage that one brings two soon held true, and Niall O'Brien was trapped in front of his off stump by James Pattinson the following over. By now, Ireland had slumped to a meagre 87 for five with just over twenty overs to face. Australia held an enormous advantage, and Ireland had the last two recognised batsmen at the crease: Kevin O'Brien and Alex Cusack.

It fell to Alex Cusack and Kevin O'Brien to rebuild for Ireland.​

The pair struggled to increase the scoring rate, a cover-drive for four from KOB not really breaking the shackles. After ten overs, the partnership amounted to just thirty runs, but the 39th over was a turning point. Back to back long hops from Steve Smith were deposited, one bounce, into the shiny new stand by O'Brien before Cusack got into the action by flicking a straight Dan Cristian ball for four through mid-wicket. Clint McKay, whose first nine overs had conceded just 19, was hoisted over the ropes, then pummelled back straight. Cusack had also taken a liking to Ben Hilfenhaus, and the Score wa soon rattling towards 200.

Cusack saved the best till last, thumping a rare over from Michael Clarke and picking up not one but three boundaries. In his second over, though, Clarke showed everyone his talent with a top quality ball to end the 116 run partnership, then six more (including a no-ball) to prevent Trent Johnston making contact with any o his haymaking swings. Will that be enough for Ireland? Find out soon.

IRELAND innings

Player              Status                        Runs  Blls  4s   6s    S/R
William Porterfield c. Clarke      b. Hilfenhaus    1     2    0    0   50.0%
Paul Stirling       lbw            b. Hilfenhaus   23    49    1    0   46.9%
Ed Joyce            c. Smith       b. Christian    11    32    0    0   34.4%
Niall O'Brien       lbw            b. Pattinson    25    54    1    2   46.3%
Gary Wilson         c. Watson      b. McKay        13    30    0    0   43.3%
Kevin O'Brien       lbw            b. Clarke       65    74    6    1   87.8%
Alex Cusack         not out                        42    61    7    0   68.9%
Trent Johnston      not out                         0     5    0    0    0.0%
Tim Murtagh                                       
George Dockrell                                   
Boyd Rankin                                       
 
 Total:  204/6       Overs:  50.0          Run Rate:  4.08      Extras:  24    
  
                                     -X-

AUSTRALIA Bowling

Player               Overs   Mdns    Runs   Wkts      E/R    Wds    NBs
James Pattinson      10.0      0      33      1      3.30     1      3 
Ben Hilfenhaus       10.0      1      52      2      5.20     2      2 
Clint McKay          10.0      0      30      1      3.00     1      0 
Dan Christian        10.0      0      28      1      2.80     1      1 
Steve Smith           7.0      0      34      0      4.86     2      1 
Michael Clarke        2.0      0      13      1      6.50     0      1 
Shane Watson          1.0      0       5      0      5.00     0      0 
 
 
EXTRAS           Wides: 7      No Balls: 8      Leg Byes: 8      Byes: 1

​

 

[Gaurav_7]

Surprise no Mooney there. Only positive for the Irish was that partnership between Kevin and Cusack. Surely not a good total. Hopefully, the bowlers make them earn the runs.

 

[Champagnepapi]

anyways Ireland are in trouble know it all depends on there bowling and fielding from know on

 

[Aislabie]

Forrest Strikes Green and Gold in Comebck

After Ireland's first innings 204, Austrlia certainly looked like favourites to claim victory and go one up with one to play, especially with Warner and Watson looking to give them a flying start. However, the flying start went Ireland's way as Boyd Rankin got one to lift viciously at Warner. It flew through off the glove to where Gary Wilson took the catch smartly.

Forrest joined Watson, and from ball one they both looked frenetic. Watson in particular was playing a shot a ball, and it was a surprise to nobody when he miscued one to Niall O'Brien and set off for a non-existant single. At 33 for two, Ireland would be right back in the hunt if they could just get another wicket. Unfortunately, Forrest and captain Clarke knuckled down well, seeing off Rankin and Kevin O'Brien while laying into Cusack and Johnston.

Cusack, brought down to earth from his classy innings, was thoroughly dominated by the opposing skipper who quickly raced past his half-century from just sixty balls. Forrest soon reached a fifty of his own, his third in ODIs to go with a century, and Australia looked set fair. Even when he managed to deceive Clarke with a slower ball, the game was still Australia's to lose.

Boyd Rankin was hostile, but he could only tie up one end at a time.​

George Dockrell chipped in with the two wickets of Forrest and Bailey, but it was too little too late as all-rounders Smith and Christian saw the tourists home with plenty of overs to spare. Tim Murtagh again failed to live up to his billing, going wicketless.

At the post-match press conference, Irish captain Porterfield said that "we need to find a way to combat their new ball bowlers: if we can do that, we'll be half way there. As you saw, we were almost through their batting, so the difference betweem the two sides isn't as huge as it seems."

AUSTRALIA innings

Player              Status                        Runs  Blls  4s   6s    S/R
David Warner        c. Wilson      b. Rankin        0     4    0    0    0.0%
Shane Watson        run out (N O'Brien)            21    23    3    0   91.3%
Peter Forrest       c. Cusack      b. Dockrell     76   102    2    3   74.5%
Michael Clarke      c. Rankin      b. Cusack       60    66    8    1   90.9%
George Bailey       c. Stirling    b. Dockrell     10     9    1    0  111.1%
Steve Smith         not out                        21    26    3    0   80.8%
Matthew Wade        not out                         3     5    0    0   60.0%
Dan Christian        
Clint McKay          
Ben Hilfenhaus       
James Pattinson      
 
 Total:  205/5       Overs:  38.2          Run Rate:  5.35      Extras:  14    
  
                                     -X-

IRELAND Bowling

Player               Overs   Mdns    Runs   Wkts      E/R    Wds    NBs
Boyd Rankin           9.0      0      35      1      3.89     1      1 
Trent Johnston        5.2      0      39      0      7.31     1      0 
Alex Cusack           5.0      0      42      1      8.40     0      1 
Kevin O'Brien         7.0      1      23      0      3.29     1      1 
Tim Murtagh           4.0      0      18      0      4.50     2      1 
George Dockrell       8.0      0      44      2      5.50     0      1 
 
 
EXTRAS           Wides: 5      No Balls: 5      Leg Byes: 4      Byes: 0

​

 

[qpeedore]

Good updates. Ireland need to sort out their top order, if not for O'Brien and Cusack they might have been looking at less than 150.

What are you using to sim/play the matches?

 

[Gaurav_7]

As expected. Rankin needed someone to support him. Murtagh could have bowled earlier/more overs though.

What are you using to sim/play the matches?

Syedur Rahman's CricSim.

Syedur Rahman's Cricket Simulator

 

[Umair7]

I Was Reading This Story From Start Today And It Is Awesome Cant Wait For Next Match

 

[Aislabie]

Classy Clarke Puts Aus Ahead Again

Since the first ODI wwent Australia's way in Malahide, all the talk has been about how Ireland might bounce back in Stormont. They have gone with the same batting lineup, but a small change to the bowling ranks with Mooney coming in for Murtagh. Australia have made more changes to their winning side, Cummins replacing Hilfenhaus and Hussey replacing Smith.

Ireland captain Will Porterfield shocked the punters by bowling first on what looked like a very flat pitch. The Australian opening pair set about the task with abandon, proving that the flat may even have been flatter than it looked. Shane Watson raced past his 50 off only 40 balls, leaving even his big-hitting partner in the dust. He was set and scoring fast when he slammed a loose ball from Boyd Rankin straight down KOB's throat.

At three was Forrest, the hero of the previous game. He struggled, being worked over by Rankin and finally being cuaght at slip for nine. He was replaced by possibly the leading batsman in the world, Michael Clarke. Clarke looked settled from ball one, never hitting the ball in the air but finding the gaps with casual ease.

Cap-wearing, calm and confident, Clarke carted Cusack's cutters..​

Even the dismissal of David Warner couldn't halt the Aussies' momentum because he was replaced with the self-assured George Bailey. Bailey accumulated his score mostly in pushes and nudges with only the occasional big shot, deciding instead to give the strike to his captain. Their partnership grew past the hundred mark before Bailey scooped Rankin into the hands of Trent Johnston at forty-five.

This kicked Clarke into another gear, and, ably aided and abetted by David Hussey, he scored almost exclusively in boundaries. He fell in the penultimate over, but not before he brought up a fantastic century that contained a scarcely believable twenty boundaries.

AUSTRALIA innings

Player              Status                        Runs  Blls  4s   6s    S/R
David Warner        c. Stirling    b. Mooney       41    53    1    1   77.4%
Shane Watson        c. K O'Brien   b. Rankin       59    46    5    3  128.3%
Peter Forrest       c. Stirling    b. Rankin        9    14    1    0   64.3%
Michael Clarke      c. Mooney      b. Johnston    116   105   20    0  110.5%
George Bailey       c. Johnston    b. Rankin       43    54    4    1   79.6%
David Hussey        not out                        23    29    2    1   79.3%
Matthew Wade        not out                         3     4    0    0   75.0%
Dan Christian                                     
Clint McKay                                       
Pat Cummins                                       
James Pattinson                                   
 
 Total:  315/5       Overs:  50.0          Run Rate:  6.30      Extras:  21    
  
                                     -X-

IRELAND Bowling

Player               Overs   Mdns    Runs   Wkts      E/R    Wds    NBs
Boyd Rankin          10.0      0      51      3      5.10     0      0 
Trent Johnston        9.0      0      66      1      7.33     1      0 
Alex Cusack          10.0      1      68      0      6.80     1      1 
Kevin O'Brien         5.0      0      32      0      6.40     2      1 
Paul Stirling         3.0      0      13      0      4.33     1      1 
George Dockrell       7.0      0      37      0      5.29     0      0 
John Mooney           6.0      0      37      1      6.17     0      2 
 
 
EXTRAS           Wides: 5      No Balls: 5      Leg Byes: 7      Byes: 4

​