Ireland make do with absentees

Phil Simmons, right, insists he is content to plan for some big games in 2011 without players such as Will Porterfield

Ireland will be without captain Will Porterfield, Niall O’Brien and Boyd Rankin for their matches against West Indies A and the Netherlands.

The Irish host the Windies second string at Stormont next week before the World Cricket League meetings with the Dutch between July 1 and July 10.

But their hand is weakened by the absence of Gloucestershire batsman Porterfield, Northamptonshire wicketkeeper-batsman O’Brien and Warwickshire seamer Rankin, whose services are required by their counties, while Gary Kidd and Peter Connell have been overlooked.

All-rounder Albert van der Merwe has been called up for the first time, while Sussex-affiliated paceman Craig Young and Andrew Poynter have also been selected.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons said: “The county players have one and four-day games over the period, so we have to plan without them. It’s always a balancing act with the counties, and we’ve got bigger games ahead.

“The Bangladesh games are vital in terms of ranking points, and in testing ourselves against teams who are above us at the minute. It’ll also give us a chance to try out new players.

“February 2011 and the World Cup is really our primary focus at the minute. We’ve got to see what depth we have for that.”