Ireland aim for maximum points

Trent Johnston with the Intercontinental Cup in 2007

Defending champions Ireland are aiming for maximum points against the United Arab Emirates - in the ICC Intercontinental Cup match starting at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday - which would be enough to put them in second place behind Kenya.

The two-time winners currently sit on 29 points in fourth place behind Namibia and the Netherlands but 20 points against the UAE will put them one point ahead of Namibia and 17 points behind Kenya with a game in hand.

Although the UAE have lost two of their last three matches, Ireland captain Trent Johnston believes his team will have to be on top of its game over the next four days to hit the bull’s eye.

“It will not be a walk in the park for us and we will have to play really well to collect maximum points which is our main objective,” said the 33-year-old all-rounder.

“The UAE have been unlucky in the last few games and they have a pretty experienced side. It will not be easy and we will have to grab every opportunity that comes our way. The best way of winning the game will be to dominate the proceedings from the very first session and that is what we plan to do.”

“We have got a good core of players. Some of us have been together since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies while there are a couple of immensely talented youngsters. But the bottom line is that the team knows what it requires to win the tournament and one of the key areas is to worry about ourselves and not get distracted by other teams.

“If we continue to win matches, things will take care of themselves. We can’t control the uncontrollables, can we?”

Johnston, who a year ago was preparing to shock Pakistan in the World Cup, admitted that his team are faced with a couple of additional challenges.

Fast bowler Boyd Rankin is missing with a stress fracture in his foot © Getty Images

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“Obviously, change of weather conditions is one while the other is that we are playing a first-class game as a unit for the first time in almost nine months though most of the boys have been playing competitive cricket in South Africa recently,” he added.

“But we are experienced enough to cope with these challenges and as I said earlier, we know what it requires to win a tournament. Adaptability and adjustment to different conditions is part of that package.”

Ireland will be without its promising fast bowler Boyd Rankin who suffered a stress fracture in his foot shortly before Christmas.

Rankin, who joined Warwickshire on a three-year deal from Derbyshire, is working with Warwickshire bowling coach Allan Donald on remodelling his action.

Johnston agreed that the absence of Rankin, who will also miss a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh that follows the Intercontinental Cup game, was frustrating but added that the positive side was that a newcomer will get an opportunity to feel the taste of an important tournament.

“Rankin’s absence is a blow because he gets you key wickets. But on the other side of the coin, it is a good opportunity for a youngster to step up and try to avail the chance by putting up a good performance.”

The Ireland squad includes Greg Thompson and Paul Stirling who recently took part in the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. Ireland finished 13th in the 16-team tournament which India won.

Ireland have played the UAE twice in this competition, winning on both occasions in the 2005-06 semi-final and by an innings and 177 runs when the two teams met at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium 12 months ago.

UAE squad: Saqib Ali (captain), Arshad Ali, Khurram Khan, Nizel Fernandes, Shadeep Silva, Fahad Alhashmi, Shoaib Sarwar, Sameer Zia, Zahid Shah, Naeemuddin Aslam, Ahmed Raza, Muhammed Aman Ali, Obaid Hameed, Amjad Ali, Amjad Javed, Rashid Khan, Qasim Zubair and Abdul Rehman.

Ireland squad: Trent Johnston (captain), William Porterfield, Andre Botha, Alex Cusack, Philip Eaglestone, Thinus Fourie, Gary Kidd, Dave Langford-Smith, Kyle McCallan, Eoin Morgon, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom and Greg Thompson.