CRICKET:SPORTING PASSION may be impossible to quantify but the 75,000 Bangladeshi supporters that gathered outside the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka for last Saturday's World Cup opener against India gives an indication of just what cricket means to people in the sub-continent.
And it is into that cauldron today in front of the 25,000 lucky to have nabbed a ticket that Ireland’s cricketers set out to demonstrate that things have moved on considerably since their momentous World Cup debut in the Caribbean four year ago.
It is a progress that can be measured not just in the fact that 13 of the 15 players now earn their living from the game, but also in the professional approach that means this is the best prepared squad, both physically and mentally, that Ireland have ever sent into a big tournament.
Today they face a Bangladesh side that they have beaten in both meetings in world tournaments and one that is already under pressure after losing by 87 runs against fellow tournament hosts India.
Ireland lost 3-0 to Bangladesh in Dhaka three years ago, but their build-up this time around has been far superior. Preparations have been heavily weighed, in a batting perspective, to the unique challenges they will face in this competition, in particular the slow bowling that today’s opponents rely on for success.
The day/night factor has also been mentioned as key in the build-up to the game, with 13 of the last 16 ODIs played at the ground having being won by the team batting second. Much of that is down to the heavy dew that can descend in Dhaka after the sun sets, hampering the spin bowlers’ ability to get grip and turn.
But Ireland skipper William Porterfield points to India’s performance last Saturday, where they scored 370 for four after being put into bat, thanks in the main to Virender Sehwag’s brilliant knock of 175. “A lot has been talked about the toss in the last game against India but I think that whenever someone like Sehwag comes in he can take the game away from anyone. I think the way Bangladesh came out and got the guts of 300 shows that maybe the toss is not as crucial a factor as people are saying.”
What will be key for Ireland will be how they contain Bangladesh’s top-order in the opening 10 overs, with opener Tamim Iqbal having already shown his prowess with the bat against India by top-scoring with 70.
It’s something that Ireland coach Phil Simmons has hammered into his side in the build-up.
“I think the first 10 overs are vital because their top three batsmen can take it away from you in that stage, so if we can control that, well then we’re still in the game,” he said.
Simmons will also be hoping that 20-year-old opening batsman Paul Stirling can flourish at the top of the order alongside Porterfield, while the return of Ed Joyce gives the batting line-up a serious injection of class. It will also be a defining moment in the burgeoning career of 18-year-old spinner George Dockrell, although the left-armer has already shown he relishes the big occasion after a strong showing in last year’s World Twenty20.
He is expected to be the only front-line spinner named in the starting 11, with Simmons likely to use the off-spin options provided by Stirling and Andrew White. It means off-spinner Albert van der Merwe is likely to miss out, while Alex Cusack is expected to miss the game after only returning to training yesterday morning. Andre Botha is expected to play after a return to form.
IRELAND (probable): W Porterfield (capt), P Stirling, E Joyce, N O’Brien (wkts), A Botha, K O’Brien, A White, J Mooney, T Johnston, G Dockrell, B Rankin.
IRELAND’S REMAINING FIXTURES
Wed, Mar 2nd: v England, Bangalore (day/night), 9am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30am. Sun, Mar 6th: v India, Bangalore (day/night), 9am. Live on Sky Sports 2 (red button) from 9am. Fri, Mar 11th: v West Indies, Mohali, Chandigarh (day), 4am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.45am (on red button from 8.30am). Tue, Mar 15th: v South Africa, Calcutta (day/night), 9am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30am. Fri, Mar 18th: v Netherlands, Calcutta (day), 4am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.45am.
