CRICKET:IRELAND COACH Phil Simmons will introduce Max Sorensen to international cricket in next month's Hong Kong Sixes after including The Hills all-rounder in his seven-man squad for the event yesterday.
It is the first time that Ireland will take part in the tournament after it was extended from eight to 12 teams, with the event scheduled to be played over the weekend of October 28th-30th.
The six-a-side, five-over matches involve every player except the wicketkeeper bowling one six-ball over, with the emphasis therefore being on quick-hitting all-rounders.
It’s no surprise, then, that Kevin O’Brien will captain the Ireland side in a year when he scored both the quickest century in World Cup history (50 balls) against England and in English one-day cricket (44 balls) for Gloucestershire, an achievement which earned him €5,700.
His older brother Niall will keep wicket, while opening batsman Paul Stirling is another who looks perfectly suited to the format of the competition.
Left-arm spinner George Dockrell is also included, along with Alex Cusack and John Mooney, with Sorensen the only uncapped player in the panel.
The 25-year-old Johannesburg-born player is presently Cricket Development Officer at The Hills club in Skerries and has been their overseas player since 2007 and so qualifies for International Cricket Council competitions under their residency criteria.
“It’s a perfect platform for us to get a look at Max, and see how he makes the step up,” said Simmons. “From what I’ve seen, he’s exactly the type of cricketer I’m looking for. He can bowl quick, hits the ball far, and is an exceptional fielder, who is supremely fit,” said Simmons.
Ireland have been drawn alongside defending champions Australia, England and Bangladesh in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Dockrell will join up with his Somerset team-mates in India this weekend after they beat a star-studded Kolkata Knight Riders side in Hyderabad last night to qualify for the main draw of the Champions League Twenty20.
The shorter format will play a big part of Ireland’s calendar next year, with the World Twenty20 qualifier taking place in the United Arab Emirates in March, with the top two from the 16-team event going on to the finals in Sri Lanka in September.
The fixtures for that competition were released yesterday, with the winners of the qualifier going into Group B with Australia and West Indies. The second place qualifier joins defending champions England and India in Group A. Both sets of group games will take place in Colombo.
IRELAND (squad for Hong Kong Sixes, October 28th-30th): Kevin O’Brien (Gloucestershire, capt), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), John Mooney (North County), Niall OBrien (Northants, wkts), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Paul Stirling (Middlesex).
