CRICKET: IRELAND COACH Phil Simmons has challenged opening bowler Peter Connell to get his attitude right for international cricket after omitting the North Down player from his 13-man squad for next month's Intercontinental Cup clash against Scotland in Aberdeen.
The New Zealand-born player played in the drawn Intercontinental Cup game against Kenya in Eglinton at the start of this month, but was not picked for the one-day series against the African side, which Ireland won 3-0.
With Boyd Rankin missing due to county commitments, Simmons’s decision cannot have been an easy one as Connell was the top wicket-taker when Ireland claimed a third straight win in the competition against Namibia in Port Elizabeth last November.
It was his reaction to being dropped that concerned Simmons, who admitted it was something of a wake-up call for Connell. “Sometimes when people don’t play, their focus and attitude can drop. I know it can be difficult, but people have got to be strong and show the right determination to prove to me they should be included,” added Simmons, who was keen to outline that Connell’s international future is far from over.
“He’s obviously disappointed. He’s asked me what he needs to do to get back into the fold, and that he’s going to work doubly hard to get back into contention. That’s exactly what a coach wants to hear. He’s going to play in the A team at Lord’s against MCC, so that’s where he’ll start the process of getting back into the team.”
Connell’s exclusion may offer a chance to 17-year-old Malahide and Warwickshire bowler Shane Getkate to earn a first senior cap after some good showings for Irish youth sides this summer.
“I’ve watched quite a bit of our young seam bowling talent over the past month at both the Under-19 and Under-17 European Championships and he’s the one who has impressed me most,” said Simmons.
Along with Rankin, Simmons will also be without two more county players in skipper William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien, with Kyle McCallan taking the captain’s armband in the four-day match, which gets under way on August 17th at Mannonfield.
IRELAND(Squad for Intercontinental Cup match v Scotland, Aberdeen, August 17th-20th, Aberdeen): Kyle McCallan (Waringstown, capt), Andre Botha (North County), Jeremy Bray (The Hills), Andrew Britton (Fox Lodge), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), Shane Getkate (Malahide), Trent Johnston (Railway Union), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Paul Stirling (Carrickfergus), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Regan West (CSN), Andrew White (Instonians), Gary Wilson (Surrey, wkts).
