Ireland will be hoping to match the exploits of its senior team at the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean last year and make it through to the Super League just as Trent Johnston and his men got through to the Super Eight stage in the West Indies.
Leg-spinner Thompson, who is appearing at his third U/19 CWC, will be a key player for the side and will look to use his experience of senior international cricket to boost his side’s efforts.
Opening bowlers Gavin McKenna and Richard Keaveney, along with top order bat and off-spin bowler James Hall, were also in the Ireland squad two years ago.
Ireland coach Brían O’Rourke is happy with the composition of his squad. He said: “The players have been working hard in training and are eagerly awaiting the start of the tournament. The squad has a good blend of youth and experience, with four having played in Sri Lanka in 2006 and no fewer than seven players will still be eligible in two years’ time.”
The next generation of Bermuda cricketers will be going all out to make their marks on the global stage and assure those back home that cricket on the island is in good hands.
The team played in the first half of the country’s Premier Division League and finished with a record of three wins and five defeats. It also appeared in the Sir Garfield Sobers Tournament in July 2007 and finished with a 6-2 winning record.
The side, which has been training five times a week in preparation for the event, is coached by Arnold Manders, who is director of cricket development for the Bermuda Cricket Board.
Manders said: “The key players for our team are those who have already played for the senior team – Rodney Trott, Malachi Jones, Tamauri Tucker and Chris Douglas.
“With the exception of Tamauri, the rest are all genuine all-rounders and the bulk of our runs and wickets will most likely come from them.
“These players are the catalyst of our team and how we progress in the tournament will depend heavily on how successful they are. The younger players will be looking for guidance and support from them as well.”
Group D (to be based in Kuala Lumpur, seeding in brackets)
England (4)
Bangladesh (5)
Bermuda (12)
Ireland (13)
Schedule:
17 February – England v Ireland, Bayuemas Oval
18 February – Bangladesh v Bermuda, Bayuemas Oval
19 February – England v Bermuda, Royal Selangor Club
20 February – Bangladesh v Ireland, Bayuemas Oval
21 February – Bermuda v Ireland, Royal Selangor Club
22 February – England v Bangladesh, Royal Selangor Club
GROUP D SQUADS
ENGLAND
Alex Wakely (captain), Ben Brown, Liam Dawson, Steven Finn, Billy Godleman, James Harris, James Lee, Stuart Meaker, Sam Northeast, Daniel Redfern, James Taylor, Thomas Westley, Chris Woakes, Greg Wood, James Goodman.
BANGLADESH
Md. Sohrawardi Shuvo (captain), Dollar Mahmud, Ashraful Hossain, Shubhashis Roy Md. Rubel Hossain, Gulam Kibriya, Rony Talakdar, Md. Mahmudul Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mohammad Shakil, Mohammad Nadimuddin, Md. Mithun, Md. Saikat Ali, Amit Majumder, Ashiqul Islam.
BERMUDA
Rodney Trott (captain), Malachi Jones, Tamauri Tucker, Machai Campbell, Pierre Smith, Greg Maybury, McLaren Smith, Terryn Fray, Deunte Darrell, Jordan De Silva, Christopher Douglas, Kyle Hodsoll, Dennico Hollis, Tre Govia, Regino Smith.
IRELAND
Greg Thompson, (captain), Ben Ackland , Andrew Balbirnie, Andrew Britton, Christopher Dougherty, Shane Getkate, James Hall, Richard Keaveney, Theo Lawson, Graham McDonnell, Gavin McKenna, Lee Nelson, Stuart Poynter, James Shannon, Paul Stirling.
