It might be a group game, but as far as Brian Lara is concerned West Indies are treating the team’s match against Ireland today as a second round clash.
The encounter will have much more at stake than a 100 percent record for the World Cup host team and the captain was quick to stress the point (that it was points they were after) at yesterday’s post practice press conference.
“This is what I am impressing on the team to consider, that this is the start of the second round, the points that you get with the team that go through, those points accompany you, it is the second round as far as we are concerned,” the team’s captain said at Kensington Oval. Surprise second-round qualifiers Ireland, advanced after Zimbabwe was beaten by Pakistan.
They join the West Indies in the Super Eight stage after getting three points from their defeat of Pakistan and tie against Zimbabwe.
Lara said the Irish was being assessed on merit and the West Indies’ final 11 would be selected based on the evaluation of their opponents. “We are working on our strengths and trying to ensure we harness it going through the tournament, not because of shortcomings or whatever is going on with Ireland.”
The West Indies has run hot and cold in this World Cup as is their trademark.
They will need to be on their guard against Ireland who has proven themselves more than just sparring partners for their more established opponents.Against Zimbab-we, a middle order slump from a few soft dismissals caused some flutters in the West Indies’ camp and any repeat could spell trouble against an attack that is not so much dangerous as tricky.
On a grassy Sabina Park pitch against Pakistan, the Ireland attack performed like seasoned campaigners routing the strong Pakistan line-up for 121. Boyd Rankin is a towering 6′ 7″ paceman who generated incredible pace while Dave Langford Smith and Kevin O’Brien were the perfect foils. They moved the ball around like it was second nature then, but on a bare surface, their real mettle will be tested. They will not have another such grassy strip because the entire Sabina square was shaved, leaving the three pitches bare and hard. Lara said he preferred a good one-day pitch but would be happy to have his pacemen regain the control they exhibited against Pakistan, which they abandoned the very next game. So far Ireland have shown they have at least two excellent batsmen against inconsistent bowling.
Jeremy Bray’s century against Zimbabwe and Niall O’Brien’s half century off Pakistan looked as good as any innings in the group.
Outside of those two, the others are an unproven lot. Their sternest test awaits them when Jerome Taylor, Darren Powell and company put their best foot forward on one of West Indies’ favorite stomping ground.
Teams: West Indies from – Brian Lara (captain) Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Shiv Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Dinesh Ramdin, Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor, Darren Powell, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Ian Bradshaw and Kieron Pollard.
Ireland from: Trent Johnson, William Porter-field, Jeremy Bray, Eion Morgan, Niall O,Brien, Andre Botha, Kevin O Brien, Kyle McCallan, Andrew White, Dave. Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin and J. Mooney.
