TECTOR BACK & HOEY IN AS LIGHTNING LOOK TO STRIKE BACK!

The LHW Financial Planning Leinster Lightning today announce a 13-man panel to take part in the second IP20 Festival Weekend at Bready Cricket Club starting on Friday June 25^th with a tie against the Munster Reds at 4pm.

Jack Tector has been added to the enlarged 13-man squad as batting cover having missed out on last week’s 12-man panel, while there is one change, with Gavin Hoey replacing JJ Garth in the squad.

Having defeated the Reds last Friday at Pembroke, the Lightning lost out to the Northern Knights on Saturday and by the barest of margins to the North West Warriors on Sunday. Head Coach Nigel Jones expects a positive response from his charges this weekend at Bready.

“We’re excited about getting another opportunity so quickly,” says Jones. “Obviously when things don’t go as well as hoped, you’re always keen to get back to it. While we’ve identified a couple of areas where we really need to sharpen up, we’ve got an appreciation that we’ve come off a strong 50-over competition, where the boys played some really good cricket.

“With the whole restructuring of the squads etc, we don’t have the luxury of batting as deep or having as many bowling options as maybe we once did, to pull us out of trouble at times. That’s the nature of trying to develop the game and ensure we create opportunities for further players as well.

“We just have to make it a focus of ours that the top six deliver with the bat and our bowlers are on song and sharp with their skills. We were off a couple of times over the weekend, and it cost us. That’s going to happen in T20 too, by the nature of the format.”

Speaking of the players coming into the squad, Jones acknowledged Jack Tector’s abilities and the options Gavin Hoey provides.

“Jack’s a quality operator, well known around the group. He may have struggled in the 50-over competition recently, but we genuinely believe he’s one of our strongest players and he will come in as batting cover. We’re looking forward to some contributions from himself if the opportunity presents over the weekend.

“For Gavin, this is an exciting opportunity for him right now. We’ve been fortunate to work with him a lot over the last 12 months or so, as he has made the change to leg-spin.We’ve been really impressed throughout the training sessions and hubs last year alongside the contracted Ireland players. We believe he has a really strong skillset, suited to T20 cricket. His batting’s been impressive, and he moves well in the field too. 

“Gavin brings an option with the ball that we feel we need, in terms of a wicket-taking ability, and we’re looking forward to giving him an opportunity, just as we did with Davey O’Halloran in the 50-over competition. It’s the only way we can learn about players sometimes and we’d rather be bold and aggressive with our approach, and I think this selection gives us that mindset going into the weekend.

“With JJ meanwhile, we’re really looking forward to his involvement with the Lightning Bolts in the Future Series and JJ is very keen to put his marker down in that competition and get some confidence back. We’ll be monitoring him closely throughout that competition and it’ll be good for him when those games come around.”

The Lightning take an exciting squad of 13 to Bready, with some young players getting further opportunities to push their case and the established players knowing they need to stand up and be counted.

“I know they have the bit between their teeth,” says Jones.“It always happens after being on the wrong side of results. We’re under no illusions as to what we have to work on and get right for this weekend and we’re excited to get another crack at it.

“Make no mistake, we’re really focused on this weekend and looking forward to it.”

The Leinster Lightning face the Munster Reds at 4pm on Friday June 25^th, the Northern Knights at 4pm on Saturday 26^th and the North West Warriors at 11am on Sunday 27^thJune.

Full match reports will be on the Cricket Leinster website after the games, with livestreaming available via HBV Studios each day.

Leinster Lightning is sponsored by LHW Financial Planning whose logo will appear on the 2021 new playing kit– the support of LHW Financial Planning is hugely appreciated by players, management and fans alike.

Leinster Lightning Squad for IP20 Trophy Festival Weekend

Friday 25 – Sunday 27 June

Bready CC

- George Dockrell (capt) – Phoenix
- Lorcan Tucker (v/c) – Pembroke
- Rory Anders – YMCA
- Andrew Balbirnie – Pembroke 
- Jamie Grassi – Phoenix
- Gavin Hoey – Pembroke/DUCC  
- Josh Little – Pembroke 
- Barry McCarthy – Pembroke 
- Kevin O’Brien – Railway Union
- David O’Halloran – Malahide 
- Simi Singh – YMCA 
- Jack Tector – YMCA
- Tim Tector – YMCA