John Anderson captains the Leinster Lightning tonight.
With a positive weather forecast a big crowd is expected at Anglesea Road this evening for the T20 match between Leinster Lightning and Munster Reds. It is the chance to see many of the most promising young cricketers in Leinster - playing on both sides.
One of the most positive aspects of the new inter-provincial tournament has been the way it has opened a pathway for young cricketers to compete at the highest levels. By my count [and depending on your definition of young] there have been about a dozen young players that have been given opportunities with the Leinster Lightning. Last week Tom Stanton [Merrion] and Gareth Delany [Leinster] made the step up and both are retained in the squad for tonight’s match.
But perhaps of greatest interest will be the sight of some of the quickest young fast bowlers in the province brought together in the one game. The Leinster Lightning squad includes Andrew Sheridan [North County] and Bobby Gamble [YMCA]. The Munster Reds can call upon - David Delany [Clontarf], Rory Anders [Phoenix] and Max Neville [Merrion]. The number on show also point to the value of the ‘Find a Fast Bowler’ programme that is run each year*. There of the players are past winners. It should be a very interesting sub-plot to the game itself.
The match starts at 5.00.
Leinster Lightning
John Anderson (c) (Merrion)
Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke)
Peter Chase (Malahide)
Gareth Delany (Leinster)
George Dockrell (Dublin University / Leinster)
Bobby Gamble (YMCA)
Eddie Richardson (North County)
Andrew Sheridan (North County)
Simi Singh (YMCA)
Max Sorensen (The Hills)
Tom Stanton (Merrion)
Lorcan Tucker (w/k) (Pembroke)
Munster Reds
Stephan Grobler [c] (Cork County)
David Delany (National Academy/Clontarf)
Arslan Anwar (Co Kerry)
Morne Bauer (Cork County)
Yaqoob Ali (Co Kerry)
Robert Forrest (Clontarf)
Nicolaas Pretorius (Phoenix)
Rory Anders (National Academy/Phoenix)
Jamie Grassi (National Academy/North County)
Max Neville (National Academy/Merrion)
Harry Tector (National Academy/YMCA)
Jack Tector (National Academy/YMCA)
*Past winners of the ‘Find a Fast Bowler’ programme.