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Ger Siggins writing for the Daily Star gives us his tournament preview looking ahead to Ireland’s ICC World Twenty20 campaign that starts tomorrow with the crucial St. Patrick’s Day showdown against Zimbabwe.
ST PATRICK’S Day holds a special place in Irish cricket mythology.

In 2007 the national saint’s day saw a famous World Cup win over Pakistan and marked the start of the surge to the brink of Test status.

Now, seven years on, March 17th could see another victory over an ICC full member.

And while that Niall O’Brien-inspired win was cheered to the rafters in many Irish pubs, Monday’s is unlikely to be quite as well-fuelled.

Niall & Kevin O’Brien are one of only three survivors from the 2007 World Cup Squad

The first game of the ICC World Twenty20, against Zimbabwe, starts at 9.30am Irish time, when the shamrock has yet to be wet in most homes.

But Ireland will be keen to start the day with a bang, and use the momentum to carry them through the first round group.

And while ICC has downgraded the six associate qualifiers by insisting on another “first round” where they are grouped with Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, the format might just suit the notoriously slow-starting Ireland.

After the Africans they face the UAE and Holland, with the reward for the winner a place in the second round and games against Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand and England.

Ireland are ranked 9th at T20, five places ahead of Zimbabwe, whose players have spent the winter fighting their own board for money owed. The ZCU is a shambles, and ICC had to send its cricket chairman out to patch together a deal to ensure they turn up in Bangladesh.

Ireland had a notable win against West Indies in Jamaica in January, but other warm-up results were patchy.

Part of the problem has been a failure to get starts. The opening pair were brilliant form the qualifiers in Abu Dhabi in November, but have struggled since with form and fitness.

William Porterfield will be looking to lead from the front with the bat.

William Porterfield had a poor season with Warwickshire but made Autumn centuries against England and USA — Ireland’s first in T20 – before averaging just 10 in the Caribbean. Since the 2011 win in Bangalore he has been out five times for a golden duck, twice at the 2012 World Twenty20.

Opening the batting requires focus and, as Alastair Cook has found, that isn’t easy at the start of a game – when the captain has several duties with umpires, media and team-mates – or straight after running things in the frantic closing overs in the field.

A shunt down the order might solve this problem, and allow county openers Ed Joyce or Niall O’Brien to bat in their favourite spot.

Paul Stirling has yet to fire since his stunning 76 in 43 balls against Afghanistan in the qualifier final and a sore toe has kept him out of some games since.

The Middlesex man’s spin, in tandem with George Dockrell and rookie Andrew McBrine, will be crucial to Ireland.

The Ireland squad in full is as follows:
William Porterfield (captain), (Warwickshire), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Kevin O’Brien (Railway Union), Niall O’Brien (Leicestershire), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Max Sorensen (The Hills), James Shannon (Instonians), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Craig Young (Bready).

Ireland’s fixtures at Twenty20 World Cup are as follows
All Matches Broadcast Live on Sky Sports;

Group B

March 17th v Zimbabwe – Sylhet 9.30am Irish Time
March 19th v UAE – Sylhet 1.30pm Irish Time
March 21st v Netherlands – Sylhet 9.30am Irish Time

If Ireland progress from initial group, it is then the ‘Super 10’ Phase of the Tournament;

Group 1

March 24th v Sri Lanka – Chittagong 1.30pm Irish Time
March 27th v South Africa – Chittagong 9.30am Irish Time
March 29th v New Zealand – Chittagong 9.30am Irish Time
March 31st v England – Chittagong 9.30am Irish Time

Ger Siggins (Daily Star)
Ireland lost their final warm-up match © Barry Chambers
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