Photo Credit: Sportsfile
Cricket Ireland has recalled pace bowler Josh Little – who is currently playing in the Lanka Premier League – to bolster the Ireland Men’s squad ahead of the start of the multi-format series against USA starting next week.
The Ireland Men’s squad arrived in Miami today ahead of the historic first-ever full series against the USA on American soil, with all players and coaches on the flight successfully passing their first pre-series COVID tests since landing. The squad’s first training session is Friday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale.
However, a number of members of the squad are yet to join up with their teammates, or had their departures delayed, as a result of COVID-19 related issues:
• Barry McCarthy and George Dockrell both tested positive during pre-series testing – they will shortly complete their isolation period and will fly out once if they then return a negative PCR result;
• Harry Tector and Gareth Delany – already in Florida, having played in the recent US T20 Open tournament – both reported positive COVID tests prior to joining up with squad and have begun their 10-day in-room isolation;
• Craig Young was identified on the eve of departure as a close contact of a positive case, and is – under Northern Ireland guidelines – not permitted to travel for 10 days and must receive a negative PCR test before he can join the squad; and
• Assistant Coach Gary Wilson has had to delay his departure after it appears he received a false positive report on his pre-series COVID test. He is being re-tested, and if clear, will fly out on Sunday.
Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director for Cricket Ireland, said:
“We are pleased to have our squad arrive in Miami and are all looking forward to the series ahead. We have experienced a few last minute complications related to COVID, but with the extended travelling squad that we have taken, and the recall of Josh Little from Sri Lanka, we don’t foresee any issues with the series proceeding as scheduled.
“Several of our players have had their departures from Ireland delayed, but we are hopeful they can join the squad in Florida in a few days. Likewise, Assistant Coach Gary Wilson – who we believe may have received a false positive, couldn’t depart with the main squad. He’ll be re-tested again today and we hope will be cleared to travel shortly.
“Harry Tector and Gareth Delany, who were already in Florida, respectively returned positive results via antigen tests before they could join up with the squad, and will remain separately until they have undergone PCR tests to confirm their status.
“We have been very fortunate over the last 20 months to have had very few COVID-related issues impacting upon our international teams – and while the last few days have forced us into some last minute juggling, we are optimistic that we can minimise the impact on the USA series.”
TOUR SCHEDULE
USA tour leg
• 20 December: USA Invitational XI v Ireland Men – warm-up match (Florida; start 2pm local time)
• 22 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 1st T20I (Florida; start 2pm local time)
• 23 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 2nd T20I (Florida; start 7pm local time) D/N
• 26 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 1st ODI (Florida; start 10am local time)
• 28 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 2nd ODI (Florida; start 10am local time)
• 30 December: USA Men v Ireland Men – 3rd ODI (Florida; start 2pm local time) D/N
D/N = Day Night Floodlit Fixture
West Indies tour leg
• January 8: 1st CG Insurance ODI – West Indies v Ireland (Jamaica; 10.30am Eastern Caribbean / 2.30pm Ireland)
• January 11: 2nd CG Insurance ODI – West Indies v Ireland (Jamaica; 10.30am Eastern Caribbean / 2.30pm Ireland)
• January 14: 3rd CG Insurance ODI – West Indies v Ireland (Jamaica; 10.30am Eastern Caribbean / 2.30pm Ireland)
• January 16: T20I International – West Indies v Ireland (Jamaica; 5pm Eastern Caribbean / 9pm Ireland)
A warm-up match prior to the first ODI will be announced in due course.
