Johnston eyes ICC Twenty20 spot

Trent Johnston will be one of Ireland's most important players this weekend

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Former captain Trent Johnston returns to Ireland duty this weekend after a short, voluntary break from the international scene.

Johnston stepped back from international action after Ireland’s tour of Bangladesh in March. He missed the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and Scotland, ICC Intercontinental Cup and Friends Provident Trophy matches and the ongoing ICC European Championships being played in Dublin.

But the 34-year-old is back to help Ireland qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 qualifying tournament in Belfast which starts on Saturday with the final on Tuesday.

“I made myself available because I want to help Ireland reach next year’s ICC World Twenty20,” he said.

“I didn’t make myself available for the recent ODIs because I thought, when I wouldn’t be around for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, it made no sense in me playing in those matches.

“All I would have been doing was denying someone a place who can be groomed and prepared for the tournament to be held in the Asian subcontinent.”

Johnston has also been recalled for Ireland’s ICC Intercontinental Cup against Canada to be played in Malahide, Ireland from 6 to 9 August 6-9. However, he is not in the side for the August 12 ODI against the same opposition after again making himself unavailable.

Top seeded Ireland are grouped with Scotland and Bermuda for the Twenty20 qualifier while the other group is formed of Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada.

Both finalists will qualify for that tournament which will take place in England next June while the third place, to be decided by a third and fourth-place play-off, is dependent on Zimbabwe Cricket’s Board ratifying a decision taken by its officials during the ICC’s annual conference week to step back from the tournament.

Johnston has played in 23 ODIs, including at last year’s World Cup where Ireland beat Pakistan and Bangladesh, and 16 first-class international matches. He inspired his side to successive victories in the ICC Intercontinental Cups in 2006 and 2007.

His fitness and job commitments were also the combining reasons for taking a step back from one-day and four-day matches.

“I decided to step down because my body was telling on me and my job commitments were not allowing me to stay out of the office for longer periods of time,” he added.

“I underwent surgery on my bowling arm after the Bangladesh tour and now I am trouble-free. But I completely back my decision to withdraw from one-day matches.

“I can’t have the right to pick and choose the matches. I think my decision has benefited everyone, especially Phil Simmons (team coach) who can prepare the team for the future.”