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• Last updated on Sun, 17 Jun, 2018, 11:33 AM
“We have some good strikers of the ball in the squad and good athletes, attributes which are important in T20 cricket” – Ford © Getty
Graham Ford, Ireland’s coach, believes that each player in his group has much to offer in T20 cricket, ahead of the clash against Scotland in the ongoing tri-series in the Netherlands. Ireland, that are currently placed at No.17, will need to rise up in order to qualify for the World T20 in 2020.
“I don’t want to single out individuals,” said Ford on Saturday (June 16). “But some players have improved their cricket, some take to this format, but every single player in the group has a lot to offer in T20 cricket. It is just about taking their game forward.
“I am quite excited about the make-up of the group and excited by the talent in the squad. There’s a lot of hard work that needs to be done and the boys are up for it, but it’s about sharpening the skills before the next World Twenty20 qualifiers.”
After three games, Ireland have lost two, and won one. Their win was a comfortable one over Scotland on Saturday, after having had posted 205 on the board thanks to fifties from Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie and Gary Wilson, before Scotland were kept to 159 for 5.
Ford, who took over as Ireland coach in September, after the tri-series, has the India challenge at hand. The No.3 T20I side will play a two-match T20I series ahead of the commencement of their England tour.
“We have some good strikers of the ball in the squad and good athletes, attributes which are important in T20 cricket,” said Ford. “The bowlers are probably going for too many boundaries at the minute, and not squeezing enough dot balls, especially when a new batter comes in.
“There are so many areas you have to stay on top of, but the guys are aware of them,” he added.
In their final tri-series match on Sunday, Ireland will be up against Scotland once again.
