Ian Callender, 14 May 2001
EXPERIENCE and safety first are the watchwords behind the Ireland selectors
final 14 for the ICC
Trophy, finally unveiled at Stormont on Saturday night.
Both Ryan Eagleson and Mark Patterson, two of five survivors from the last
tournament in Malaysia four
years ago, are included, despite not having bowled for more than a year,
and Jason Molins, who missed
the winter training before deciding that he would be available for the trip
to Canada after all, ensures the
former Carlisle club is represented for the third successive World Cup
qualifying tournament, following
his brother Greg in 1997 and Mark Cohen in 1994.
The most glaring aspect of the squad is the inclusion of only one player from North West which, few would argue, has three of the strongest club sides in the country and last year shared the inter-provincial championship. But, as in 1994, Decker Curry, the vice-captain, will be the sole representative from the area as was always possible once Gordon Cooke announced his retirement and the decision was taken to bring only one wicket-keeper. No fewer than five North West players made the trip to South Africa in March and hopes were high that, at last, their dominance in club cricket was being fairly represented at international level. But Andrew Patterson's much-improved form behind the stumps after two months' non-stop cricket on the county circuit with Sussex spelt the end for Allan Rutherford and Richard McDaid, by his own admission, had a disappointing fortnight in Johannesburg and his form has scarcely improved at the start of the season. Once his first (and only) two overs in Saturday's final Ireland trial went for 22 runs, the selectors had little option but to look elsewhere. It was also a decision on the last possible day that must have cost Strabane all-rounder Mark Gillespie his place in the party. He made an impressive entry onto the international stage at the age of 31 - he made 56 runs and took four wickets in the three-day game against Scotland - which earned him not only a winter training place but also a passport to South Africa. But, they say, statistics rarely lie and tour figures of two for 81 from 14 overs with his leg spin and five runs in two innings against the strong provincial line-ups relegated him to the Possibles side in the trials where, significantly, he remained for the Stormont game. Saturday's dismissal for three and four overs for 29 sealed his fate. Although one of four named non-travelling reserves for Canada, he now seems destined join the list of official one-cap wonders.
When National coach Ken Rutherford was asked if it was a difficult decision to leave out Gillespie, he said: "The final match showed what the boys could do. There were players under the microscope and it was a case of how they reacted under pressure. That's what they will be up against in Canada, when it comes down to getting those last few runs or wickets." So, it was Eagleson's time with Derbyshire and Mark Patterson's five-year stint at Surrey which the selectors felt they could not ignore; players who have seen it all before on a daily basis at professional level and, just as importantly, were at the last ICC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur.
Mark Patterson certainly did not hammer the door down for inclusion in the final trial but at least this time he spent time in the middle and his line and length were more impressive than at Clontarf although he was no more successful in breaking the massive 193 runs partnership between Peter Davy and Andrew White than any of his team-mates. Eagleson got the perfect start, trapping Dominic Joyce third ball, but an opening spell of seven overs, unbroken, to prove his fitness, was just what the doctor ordered and after scoring an unbeaten 14 off 11 balls to help the Jason Molins side to 203 for eight in their 50 overs, the selectors could finally ink in a name they have wanted to include for at least two years. He should only improve between now and the middle of July.
Molins was also under pressure to produce the goods and a chanceless 55 from 70 balls with seven fours, much more fluent than he was at Clontarf, proved to be another irresistibile claim for selection. With White, Davy, Dom Joyce and Decker Curry all vying for places at the top of the order, London-based Molins is by no means certain of a starting place in Toronto and he would be a weak link in the field, but he is a good safety valve for the squad, especially as cover for the inexperienced Joyce. Although Molins has not played for Ireland since the Emerging Nations Tornament in Zimbabwe 13 months ago, two of his last five innings have been half centuries, although Allan Rutherford's ability to score at a run-a-ball anywhere in the order and his role as reserve wicket-keeper could have been just as useful.
The initial thoughts of the selectors, Ken Rutherford confirmed, was one of uniformity and it was easy to choose 16-17 of the final make up, he said. When asked directly about the North West's lack of representation, he said: "All players in the (winter) squad had the chance to perform but the North West guys didn't make the most of their opportunity." Three of the four reserves are from the area with Mark Gillespie named along with Allan Rutherford, Gary Neely, who did little wrong on Saturday except failing to take a wicket and Conor Armstrong, surely an international for the future after an impressive first trial when he took four wickets. Somehow, he did not get a bowl at Stormont as Davy scored 102 not out, with 13 fours and a six, and White was run out for 90 from 104 balls with nine fours. They were two players who did not have to wait for the National Coach's announcment, just an hour after the match, before their places on the plane to Canada were confirmed.