BELFAST, Ireland, CMC – West Indies A will clash with Phil Simmons’ Ireland in the first of two one-day matches today, as they search for their first win on their tour of Britain.
The Caribbean side will be called upon to shift their attention to the game’s shorter form after arriving here Monday following their drawn second “Test” against India A last weekend.
In three matches on tour, they have failed to carve out a positive result but coach Hendy Springer said his side would be looking to play positively.
“We have been working hard and we are seeing players making strides forward. In these matches here we will be looking to put in the usual hard work, and we know we can’t be complacent,” Springer said.
“We have to pay attention to detail and look to do those ‘one per centers’ really well.”
West Indies A’s batting flopped in the drawn opening tour game against Glamorgan and it collapsed again as they went down by six-wickets to India A in the first four-day “Test” at Grace Road in Leicester.
They, however, turned in an improved performance in the second “Test” last week, piling up 563 in response to India A’s 543, with captain Devon Smith and Andre Fletcher getting centuries.
Springer, who also led the side on a tour of Bangladesh recently, said he was looking for continued improvements in the batting department.
“The bowling has done really well so far and I’m heartened. We just need now for the batsmen to be more consistently productive,” the former Barbados off-spinner said.
“We are getting there. The conditions here are good for cricket and once the weather remains good we should be OK.”
Barbadian all-rounder Kevin Stoute and Leeward Islands leg-spinner Anthony Martin will replace left-hander Justin Guillen and leg-spinner Odean Brown for the two one-dayers against Ireland and the Tri-Nation series involving England Lions and India A starting next week.
West Indies A face a weakened Ireland squad missing three of its top players who have commitments to their English counties.
The 13-man squad will be led by Trent Johnston but will miss regular captain William Porterfield, batsman Niall O’Brien and fast bowler Boyd Rankin.
Simmons, who played 26 Tests and 143 One-Day Internationals, said he would use the opportunity to look at new players.
The second one-dayer is scheduled for the same venue on Friday.
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES A – Devon Smith (captain), David Bernard, Lionel Baker, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Assad Fudadin, Imran Khan, Anthony Martin, Omar Phillips, Andre Russell, Kevin Stoute, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton.
IRELAND – Trent Johnston (captain), Andre Botha, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Phil Eaglestone, Nigel Jones, John Mooney, Kevin O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, Paul Stirling, Albert van der Merwe, Andrew White, Gary Wilson.
