Ireland names their new squad for Intercontinental Cup and South Africa tour

Ireland bowler George Dockrell has taken 59 wickets from 53 games in ODIs 

Ireland announced their squad which is going to play the ICC Intercontinental cup match against Hong Kong and their tour of South Africa. The Cricket Board of Ireland called in the left-arm spinner George Dockrell to join the team and play against the Asian team next month. Reports suggested that the team will announce their T20 squad on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old spinner will replace Stuart Poynter for the four-day match at Stormont whereas Poynter will represent the team in the ODIs against South Africa and Australia in Benoni, which will also take place during the next month.  

As quoted from the ICC website, the Head of Selectors Alan Lewis said, “With the InterContinental Cup game against Hong Kong it gave the selectors an opportunity to continue to focus on the formula that has brought success so far in the competition.”

Lewis said that it’s the format in which the team has excelled in over the years. He believes that the new team is well balanced and added, "It's a format which we have excelled in over the years, winning it four times. We've named what we feel is a well-balanced squad which will give William (Porterfield) plenty of options as we seek out another victory.”

In the Intercontinental Cup positions, Ireland is in the second position, where Afghanistan currently ranks 1. Ireland’s next opponent Hong Kong is in the fourth position now, whom they are going to meet on 30th August at Belfast.

The 24-year-old Dockrell was released by Somerset at the end of the 2015 English season and he has been in and out of his country’s squad during this year. 

Lewis feels that the squad which played against world’s one of the most aggressive team Pakistan, deserves another opportunity and added, "While this week's performance was disappointing, we feel this group of players deserve another opportunity.” He further said, "These games will certain provide us with a stern challenge but I'm certain the squad will respond positively."

The squad for the Intercontinental Cup squad which is going to take place at Stormont between 30th August- 2nd September is: William Porterfield (Captain), John Anderson, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson and Craig Young.

The ODI squad for the matches at Benoni features the following players: William Porterfield (Captain), John Anderson, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Stuart Poynter, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson and Craig Young.