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Ireland A International and Senior team hopeful Ben Ackland is looking forward to a season of opportunity after being selected for the Unicorns squad that takes part in the Yorkshire Bank40 competition
Ireland A International and Senior team hopeful Ben Ackland is looking forward to a season of opportunity after being selected for the Unicorns squad that takes part in the Yorkshire Bank40 competition.
The Unicorns receive a huge number of applications from young hopefuls who see playing for the team as a chance to show the Counties they play against what they can offer. Ackland is one of those players who sees this as a great opportunity. “I am really looking forward to the season with the Unicorns as it is a great chance to play professional cricket.

“A lot of our players have been picked up by Counties in the past, so the prospect of knowing that if you perform your reward could be a contract is exciting. Over the last three years I have got a taste of first class cricket with Cambridge MCCU and now I get a chance to gain valuable experience in the professional one-day format with the Unicorns.”

Joining a new team can be difficult, but Ackland won’t find himself surrounded by unknown players. “I am lucky as four of the other squad members played with me in the Combined Universities team (Josh Poysden, Dean Bell, Rob Woolley and Devon Endersby). It always helps when you are new to a squad to have familiar faces around you.”

The Merrion opener has to perform before he can expect a shot in the Unicorns senior team, though. “The squad has a senior team which competes in the Yorkshire Bank40 and an A team which competes in the Second XI trophy. I will need to prove myself in the A team to push for a place in the senior team.”

There is an added carrot to breaking into that senior team. “We have been drawn in a mixed group; Middlesex, Somerset, Gloucester, Leicester, Yorkshire, Glamorgan. We have Middlesex at Lords this year which is something to look forward to. I have been lucky to play at Lords a couple of times and to play in a county fixture there would be a dream come true.”

Ackland is moving back to Ireland next week and is looking forward to taking on the vice-captaincy of Merrion. “The games are mid-week for the Unicorn A side so I will fly over when required and if the senior call comes I will drop everything to make sure I can play. Obviously with the Interpros and Ireland commitments it is down to the coaching staff of the Unicorns and Ireland coach Phil Simmons to decide what’s best for me if there are any clashes.

“I am really excited to be vice-captain of Merrion this year. We have a side full
of quality and some really talented youth coming through the ranks. I think the added responsibility will help me as I tend to thrive on pressure.

“I have been lucky enough to learn and play under some brilliant captains at Merrion like John Anderson who almost single handedly won us an Irish Cup and our current captain Dom Joyce who took us back to being a force in Leinster cricket. So hopefully I can rise to the occasion like they have.”

Cricket Ireland
Recent Unicorns signing and Ireland A International Ben Ackland
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