LIGHTNING SQUAD TO FACE NWW ANNOUNCED

The LHW Financial Planning sponsored Leinster Lightning squad for the first IP50 game of the 2022 season has today been confirmed.

George Dockrell captains the side again for the 2022 season, with wicket-keeper Lorcan Tucker remaining his deputy. There are four representatives from both Pembroke and YMCA in the squad, with the remaining players coming from Balbriggan, Merrion, North Kildare and Phoenix who each have one player representing them in the squad.

Harry Tector will make his first appearance for the Lightning since returning to the side from the Northern Knights, whilst Greg Ford and Jack Carty are the other men joining the squad this season having both returned from representing the Munster Reds in the 2021.

Injuries rule out seam bowlers Peter Chase and David O’Halloran from Tuesday’s squad, meaning there is a place for Ireland U19 international Muzamil Sherzad having impressed over the winter months. Gavin Hoey also misses out this week due to college exams.

The Lightning have built up to this opening game with warm-up victories of distinctly different manners against both Munster Reds and Northern Knights at Oakhill last week, firstly making a relatively modest 177 against Munster before blowing their opposition away for just 72 thanks to excellent bowling spells by Barry McCarthy, Simi Singh and Gavin Hoey.

On Wednesday a solid bowling performance saw Lightning restricting the Knights to a reasonable score of 197, and after the top order failed to fire seeing the home side 35/4, George Dockrell (81*), Lorcan Tucker (31) and Greg Ford (49*) batted with great control to see the side to what ended up a comfortable 5 wicket victory.

Coach Nigel Jones is delighted by the preparation which the side have been able to get this season;

“We’ve had a good couple of games recently, the boys have needed them both to be fair. You just cannot beat time in the middle in terms of working through the gears and getting out of tricky positions as well”

“The boys are looking forward to the season and really feel like we’re ready for the first game of the season, it’s important that we look ahead and take things one game at a time and take every opportunity to play really good cricket whenever we go on the field”

“It’s great to have so many experienced boys in the side driving the standards that saw us to success in this competition last year, along with the fresh faces around the side who will keep competition up, it’s a great squad to have for the coming season”

LEINSTER LIGHTNING SQUAD TO FACE NORTH WEST WARRIORS
3^rd May – Sydney Parade – 10:45am

George Dockrell* (Phoenix)
Rory Anders (YMCA)
Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke)
Jack Carty (Merrion)
Greg Ford (Balbriggan)
Josh Little (Pembroke)
Barry McCarthy (Pembroke)
Muzamil Sherzad (North Kildare)
Simi Singh (YMCA)
Harry Tector (YMCA)
Tim Tector (YMCA)
Lorcan Tucker+ (Pembroke)

Cricket Leinster hugely appreciates the sponsorship support we receive from LHW Financial Planning in respect of the Men’s Leinster Lightning & Bolts Interprovincial teams.

LHW provides its clients with a comprehensive financial advice service giving them the freedom to live the life they desire. LHW doesn’t just preach its ‘freedom to live’ motto, the company lives it through its actions by working alongside its clients to fulfil their life goals and ambitions using LHW’s expertise and experience. LHW’s primary objective is to enable its clients enjoy financial peace of mind.

There is a strong team at LHW led by Alan Lewis (Managing Director) with Jack Tector (Corporate Pension Services Executive) very focused on working with members of the cricket community to provide a comprehensive financial advisory service.

Contact: jack.tector@lhw.ie or alan.lewis@lhw.ie