The Lightning start the defence of their Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial T20 title with a trip to Bready cricket Club face a strong North-West Warriors side this coming Friday the 26th May.
Lightning coach, Albert van der Merwe, said he was looking forward to the challenge. “It will be a good test for us. It certainly tests our depth in the union and will give us a good indication of where we are as a group. We have had a testing few weeks with injuries to big players who are missing out this week”.
Sean Terry with concussion and Max Sorensen with a pectoral tear won’t be making the trip. “It’s unfortunate for both” commented van der Merwe. “We will miss their white ball skills. Sean reminded us of his talent against New Zealand for the Wolves, where he looked at ease against a top outfit and Max (when fit) is one of the best T20 players in the country. We also will be missing Ed Joyce, as he is no longer playing 20-over cricket but we are incredibly fortunate that he will still be with the squad in a mentoring capacity”.
“But that gives opportunities to other players to showcase what they can do”, continued van der Merwe. “Gareth Delany will get his first taste of Inter-Provincial cricket and 17-year-old Josh Little also gets an opportunity to show why he comes highly rated in this format”.
“It’s a good mix for us. Guys like Kevin O’Brien, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell and captain John Anderson bring a lot of experience to this side”.
Asked about the Leinster-based players playing for Munster, van der Merwe said, “It’s great that some of our younger players will get the opportunity to showcase their skills in a highly competitive environment and then return to us for the other formats. It will also hopefully help Munster as they develop and progress in the quest to join the full Inter-Provincial programme. There was a lot of thought given as to whom to “loan out” for the T-20 campaign and I hope it bears fruit”.
Van der Merwe would not be drawn on the Munster squad of twelve for their opener against the Northern Knights on Friday though. All he said was “I was surprised to see a couple of Leinster-based player’s names there who weren’t in the original squad. They weren’t players that were discussed per the multilateral agreement between all the unions involved, so I am a little disappointed that it happened. But that is up to them (Munster) and if they (the players) see their future there then that is their choice”.
Squad for Friday 26th in full:
John Anderson (Captain – Merrion);
Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke);
Peter Chase (Malahide);
Gareth Delaney (Leinster);
George Dockrell (Vice-Captain - Leinster / Dublin University);
Tyrone Kane (Merrion);
Josh Little (Pembroke);
Kevin O’Brien (Railway Union);
Eddie Richardson (North County);
Simi Singh (YMCA);
Fiachra Tucker (Pembroke);
Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke).
First ball in Bready is 5pm and entry is free.
The Lightning Bolts (under-23/development squad) are also in action this week, taking on a Northern Knights Emerging side in Oakhill on the 28th May.
The Bolts squad for this match:
Jack Tector (Captain – YMCA);
Rory Anders (Phoenix);
Tom Anders (Phoenix);
David Delany (Clontarf);
Gareth Delany (Leinster);
Jamie Grassi (North County);
Danny Hogan (Pembroke);
Max Neville (Merrion);
Tom Stanton (Merrion);
Harry Tector (YMCA);
Fiachra Tucker (Pembroke);
Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke).
Stephen Doheny, Sam Murphy and Andrew Sheridan were not available for selection due to exams.