Ireland, led by Andy Balbirnie, have a task at hand in their sixth T20 World Cup campaign. Ever since their march to the Super 8s in the 2009 edition, the Irish side has failed to replicate the show.
In Group A, they find themselves stacked alongside Namibia, Netherlands, and Sri Lanka. They won both warm-up matches, the main tournament will pose a challenge to a team that has lacked consistency.
Having won against Zimbabwe, they did not do well in the UAE until they won the warm-ups. While Sri Lanka will be their toughest opponent, the Dutch have also won seven out of their 11 completed T20s against Ireland. Namibia, too, are having a golden run, having won 18 out of their last 22 completed T20Is.
As a full member in the qualifying round, Ireland, a young side, will rely on their experienced heads.
Ireland’s squad for 2021 T20 World Cup
Andy Balbirnie (c), Neil Rock (wk), Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Graham Kennedy, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Ben White, Craig Young
Travel reserves: Shane Getkate, Graham Kennedy, Barry McCarthy
Head coach: Graham Ford
T20 World Cup Editions Participated: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016
Best T20 World Cup results: Super 8s (2009)
SWOT analysis
Strengths: Batting is Ireland’s strength, and they are heavily reliant on Stirling’s form. Since the 2016 T20 World Cup, Stirling has scored more T20I runs than anyone but Babar Azam. He averages 29.5 in T20 in 2021, striking at over 141. He was also the leading run-scorer in the qualifier tournament in 2019.
His opening partner Kevin O’Brien has also helped Ireland in recent times. The duo has amassed almost 1,500 runs at 40. The combined experience of Stirling, O’Brien, Balbirnie and Dockrell is an advantage for the Irish team.
The pace trio of Adair, Getkate (in reserves) and Little have done well in 2021. Even the spinners like Singh and White have had good exposure in the Arabian conditions.
Weakness: Ireland are heavily reliant on their openers, but the middle order has not come good. The opposition spinners will target them. The lack of power-hitters in the middle order may go on to hurt them too.
Their lack of consistency has been a bother. After losing the series against South Africa, they won one against Zimbabwe, only to lose against UAE, a team that did not qualify for the T20 World Cup. Then they returned to winning ways in their warm-up clashes against PNG and Bangladesh.
Opportunities: Here is another opportunity for Ireland at the highest level to live up to its reputation of giant killers. Ireland have a young side, with eight players aged 25 or below. The tournament provides them with a platform to showcase their mettle.
Twenty-four-year-old Delany’s unbeaten 88 from 50 balls against Bangladesh in the warm-up match have given their batting department hope.
White, the 23-year-old leg-spinner, impressed against PNG and looks like the jigsaw to Ireland’s wrist-spin void.
Little, 21, and Campher, 22, have looked promising and had good starts to their ODI career. They may seize the opportunity at the big stage.
Threats: In Sri Lanka, Namibia and the Netherlands, all of Ireland’s opponents in the first round are well capable of quashing their Super 12 dream. Ireland can’t be over-reliant on one department and must look for ways to support their openers. More consistency is required from the middle-order. Balbrine, Delany, Campher, Tucker and Dockrell have averaged over 20 this year.
Ireland’s likely XI: Paul Stirling, Kevin O’Brien, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Neil Rock (wk), Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Josh Little, Benjamin White
Ireland Fixtures:
- Monday, 18 October: Ireland vs Netherlands, Abu Dhabi
- Wednesday, 20 October: Ireland vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi
- Friday, 22 October: Ireland vs Namibia, Sharjah