Twitter profile photo of Andrew Balbirnie
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Ireland Men’s captain Andrew Balbirnie believes the positives his side can take from the One-Day series will hold them in good stead going into the start of the T20 Internationals against the West Indies starting today in Grenada.
Balbirnie was speaking from the team hotel after the squad had completed a training session at the National Stadium in St. George’s:
“The lads in the squad are feeling good leading in to the T20 Series. We have a lot of positives to take from the ODIs – both individually and as a team – and we take those into a new format today with a few new faces in the squad.”
“The three new guys [Harry Tector, George Dockrell and Josh Little] arrived just over a week ago, so they will have had the same lead in to the T20 series as the ODI squad did before our first game. I think both the Windies and our squad will have players who haven’t played in the ODIs, so there will be a few sets of fresh legs, so to speak, and hopefully that can help make a difference for us on the field.”
“At the minute there’s nothing really to note on the injury front going in to the T20s. We came through training and everyone appears in good health, so we expect to be picking from a full squad of fourteen.”
One area that Balbirnie credits in helping the side on the tour is the fans:
“The support out here has been fantastic for both sides. There has been a large group of Irish fans who have travelled over just for the games, and in Barbados especially there were a lot of Irish and even English tourists who came out to support us. The locals really love their cricket and while they’ve been very friendly and welcoming they are definitely supporting the home teams which has made for a great atmosphere at games so far.”
The teams begin a three-match T20 International series today, starting at 5pm (GMT) at the National Cricket Stadium, St. George’s, Grenada. For fans in Ireland and the UK, the third match will be televised on Sky Sports Cricket channel.
Ireland’s T20I squad
Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.
Upcoming international fixtures – West Indies tour
• Jan 15: 1st Twenty20 International – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada (start time 5pm, GMT)
• Jan 18: 2nd Twenty20 International – Warner Park, St. Kitts (start time 10pm, GMT)
• Jan 19: 3rd Twenty20 International – Warner Park, St. Kitts (start time 10pm, GMT)
Name of Author: Cricket Ireland
Cricket Ireland, officially known as The Irish Cricket Union Company Limited by Guarantee, is the governing body for cricket on the island of Ireland. It oversees the national men’s and women’s teams and organizes the Inter-Provincial Series, Super 3s, and All-Ireland club competitions. Ireland achieved Test status for women in 2000 and for men in 2017 when it became a Full Member of the ICC.
