Ireland out to defend title

Phil Simmons believes Ireland have what it takes to be victorious for the third time

Ireland and Namibia are gearing up for the ICC Intercontinental Cup final, to be played in Port Elizabeth from October 30 to November 3.

Ireland’s recent tour to Kenya was badly hit by the weather, with the scheduled one-day international tri-series with the hosts and Zimbabwe ruined due to rain with just three out of seven games going ahead.

“The weather hasn’t given us a good chance to prepare but we will do as much as we can do,” Ireland coach Phil Simmons said.

“Today is just about getting sharp and making sure we are in the frame of mind for tomorrow’s game.”

Simmons is confident his side can win the cup for the third time in a row.

“Namibia’s danger for us is in their bowling,” he admitted. “That is definitely their strength.

“If we can bat as we did in Kenya I think we’ll have things covered. Our bowling attack is getting into things, hitting the right areas and our two spinners have bowled well so we just need to counter their bowling attack and we’ll be on our way.

“To win this tournament again would show that we are still the number ones among the associates in four-day cricket. That’s what the guys want to show after this.

“We are defending this trophy. It’s ours and we don’t want to let it go. That was the main motivation in our last two games against Namibia and Kenya in getting to this final and so that will be the motivation here too.”

Self-belief and mental toughness are what will bring the trophy to Windhoek, according to Namibia coach Johan Rudolph.

Namibia will be looking at the bounce achieved by Ireland's main paceman Boyd Rankin

He believes his players have the necessary ammunition to overcome the more fancied Ireland over the five days of the match.

“I honestly believe it’s a 99.9 per cent mental thing now at this stage,” Rudolph said, ahead of his side’s final training session before its first appearance in the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

“You can only coach up to a point and the key thing for me is that the guys need to buy into what we are trying to achieve. How much do they want it?

“They need to believe they can beat Ireland. I really believe we are at that level, we are definitely not a Division Two side and we belong in the same league as Ireland.

“It was good to see Louis Klasinga, Kola Burger and Gerrie Snyman get selected for the team of the tournament. It demonstrates the quality we have. Those guys have been great for us this year.

“But we do not just rely on them. Sorel Burger has been a rock for us – he is our banker – and the whole team is contributing.

“Ireland have a really professional set-up and we still need to get there. As far as the threat they pose to us in this match, they have a couple of good bowlers.

“I don’t really know what this pitch is going to do at St George’s Park but Boyd Rankin bowled brilliantly against us in the second innings in Windhoek a few weeks ago. He got a lot of bounce.

“But we have prepared well for this match and I am looking forward to the contest. We’ll see how it goes.”