McCallan up for the challenge

Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrates his match-winning century © Getty Images

Stand-in captain Kyle McCallan is well aware Ireland will have to work extremely hard over the next few weeks to avoid being blown away in the Super Eight stage of the World Cup.

Ireland suffered an eight-wicket defeat by West Indies in their final Group D game at Sabina Park on Friday after the hosts reached a rain-adjusted target of 190 with 59 balls to spare thanks to Shivnarine Chanderpaul's unbeaten century.

Both West Indies and Ireland had already qualified for the Super Eight stage, Ireland having tied with Zimbabwe and beaten Pakistan.

“We have the onus on us now to go into the Super Eights and not be the whipping boys,” said McCallan, who led the side after Trent Johnston was ruled out through injury.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the fear but it would be the one thing that motivates us to go and compete.

“The adventure goes on. It is an adventure for us. This is totally unchartered waters.

Kyle McCallan admitted Ireland failed to perform with the bat

"By the end of this tournament, we will have played nine or 10 games against top international Test-class opposition and that can only be good for Irish cricket in the long run.”

McCallan admitted his side had not batted well enough against West Indies and demanded an improvement in the stage of the competition.

“We had a plan to bat first, get enough runs to put the West Indies under pressure, and then squeeze them with stump-to-stump bowling by our medium-pacers and field like we did against Pakistan,” he said.

“Unfortunately, 190 wasn’t enough to do that. We lost our way in the middle of our innings and 190 meant that we needed to get wickets early on.

“When we got Chris Gayle we thought maybe, but you’re not playing club cricket any more.

“Gayle is out and then (Ramnaresh) Sarwan comes in and then you’ve got Marlon Samuels and then Brian Lara so we were up against it, and I think it was the lack of runs that caused the problem.”

McCallan also defended his side’s surprising decision to bat first.

“I wouldn’t have changed what I did because I think it would have been the thing to do: bowl first, get your 50 overs in the field and then see how many runs you can get,” he said.

McCallan claimed he did not regret choosing to bat first

“We have plans to win matches. I don’t think there was any excessive movement with the new ball early on. I just thought we allowed them to pressure us and squeeze us in the middle of the innings.”

Ireland prime minister Bertie Ahern added his voice to those paying tribute to the squad in progressing beyond the group stage.

“I would like to congratulate you all on your wonderful achievements so far in the World Cup,” he said.

“Your exploits have considerably boosted the profile of cricket here at home with everyone taking a huge interest in your progress.

“For the team to qualify for the Super Eight in your first appearance in the finals with a game to spare is an incredible feat, and your exploits have put Ireland on the world cricketing stage.

“Once again, Irish sports people and fans have taken their own unique brand to an international event, and you have won over thousands of new admirers, both locally and worldwide, with your commitment and competitiveness, as well as your sense of fun and sporting attitude.

“We are all looking forward immensely to the next series of matches.”