CRICKET NEWS:IRELAND COACH Phil Simmons has stuck with the tried and tested for his 18-man preliminary squad for next April's World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.

The 15 players who helped Ireland claim a hat-trick of Intercontinental Cup titles in Port Elizabeth last month are included, with Eoin Morgan, Paul Stirling and Reinhardt Strydom coming back in.

Middlesex star Morgan missed the tour due his commitments with the county, but his inclusion is a big boost ahead of what looks a difficult group in the qualifiers.

Four teams will qualify for the 2011 World Cup from the event, and Ireland will need to come in the top two of a group that also includes Scotland, Canada and Namibia, whom they beat in the Intercontinental Cup decider. Oman and a qualifier will make up the group.

Outlining the make-up of his squad, Simmons said: "I've decided to go with the group of players who have served us so well this past season. It's hard to go outside that group, and the fact there's so little cricket for us between then and the qualifiers makes it nearly impossible for anybody else to stake a claim.

"We know it's going to be tough for all the countries with just four places up for grabs. There's going to be a lot of pressure games, but we have an experienced squad who have proven themselves over the years."

Simmons will also name an A squad in early February that will train through March and April as cover for the senior team.

IRELAND (preliminary squad for World Cup qualifiers): W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, capt), A Botha (North County), P Connell (North Down), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Johnston (Railway Union), K McCallan (Waringstown), J Mooney (North County), E Morgan (Middlesex), K O'Brien (Railway Union), N O'Brien (Northamptonshire), A Poynter (Clontarf), B Rankin (Warwickshire), P Stirling, (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), R West (Civil Service North), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).