IRELAND FP SQUAD

26 May 2007

Ireland opening bowler Dave Langford-Smith will miss the two games against Surrey and Sussex in the Friends Provident Trophy.

He sustained an intercostal injury while bowling in the InterContinental Cup Final against Canada at Leicester.

The other player missing from that squad is Eoin Morgan, who is now ineligible to play for Ireland in the competition, having represented Middlesex.

They are replaced by overseas players Jesse Ryder and Nantie Hayward.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons said, "We have some huge games coming up, and I will continue to rotate the players. Jeremy Bray benefitted from a rest, and looked in imperious form against Canada, when he scored 146. We have played a lot of cricket this year, and I'm mindful of the toll this has taken on certain individuals. I was delighted by our performance in Leicester, and it's always nice to collect a trophy. Hopefully we can carry our form into the games with Surrey and Sussex."

Tom Hayes, Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking, said, "I wish the team well as they undertake two more matches in the Friends Provident Trophy. It's been another successful week, with the side winning the InterContinental Cup, and as official team sponsor, Bank of Ireland are delighted that the game continues to grow in popularity throughout the country."

Surrey will be out for revenge against Ireland, having lost to them in 2004 in the C&G Trophy by 5 wickets. That game marked the debut for Ireland captain Trent Johnston, and he is one of five players in the Irish squad that played that day - the others are Peter Gillespie, Kyle Mc Callan, Andrew White and Jeremy Bray.

Mark Ramprakash has the dubious distinction of having played in two losing county sides in Ireland. He was a member of not only that Surrey side, but also the Middlesex team which was defeated in the B&H Cup in 1997. The 37 year old is in ominous form, having scored an unbeaten 142 as Surrey defeated Sussex by 16 runs on Tuesday.

Surrey have named an unchanged squad from their win over Sussex for the Irish clash, and it is packed with international stars. Azhar Mahmood will also be keen for revenge, having played in the Pakistan team which famously lost to Ireland on St Patrick's Day in the recent World Cup.

Sussex have yet to announce their squad for the game on Monday at Hove, but it is expected to contain players of the calibre of Mushtaq Ahmed, Murray Goodwin and Naved-ul-Hasan-Rana.

The squad in full is as follows:

  • Trent Johnston (captain)
  • Jeremy Bray
  • Kenny Carroll
  • Thinus Fourie
  • Peter Gillespie
  • Nantie Hayward
  • Kyle Mc Callan
  • Kevin O' Brien
  • William Porterfield
  • Jesse Ryder
  • Roger Whelan
  • Andrew White
  • Gary Wilson (wicket-keeper)

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