LEINSTER Lightning will be hoping their name doesn’t tempt fate for the three-day RSA Interprovincial Championship game which starts in College Park today.
The weather forecast isn’t great for the fixture, which sees representative cricket return to the centre of the capital after a 20 year gap. But Trent Johnston is realistic about the challenge. “If you worried about the rain in Ireland we’d never play cricket. I’m a great believer in only dealing with the things you can control.”
One of the things the Lightning coach can control is his own availability – and he’s decided to sit out this week’s game. “I’ve every intention of playing in all the one-day matches, but I want to watch this game and see how the guys get on. “I’ve a bit of a niggle with my right Achilles so, with a busy time coming up for Ireland, a three day game was probably not what I need to do. “We’ve plenty of bowling in the team anyway and it would be good for Max to get some overs under his belt. “Eddie Richardson is the form player in Leinster at the moment and it will be good to see what he can do and make further opportunities for himself.”
With College Park likely to take spin in the second half of the game, Leinster considered bringing in an extra spinner, but with Albert van der Merwe, John Anderson and Patrick Collins there are plenty of options in the squad. The hard-won victory over Northern Knights was down to the captain’s top-class innings. “We’ve all seen Kevin do that before, but it was a fantastic knock. I was only there for a couple of balls but he told me that we just needed to bat the last eight overs and we’d win. And he judged it perfectly.”
Johnston acknowledged that he learned something from the 9th wicket stand of 71 by O’Brien and Fintan McAllister. “I probably should have sent Finto in ahead of Max and me, because there’s more to winning a game than clearing the ropes. Finto was able to get the singles to get Kevin on strike and I was delighted he played so well.”
Leinster takes on a North West side missing several of the union’s bigger names, including all-rounder Stuart Thompson. But the Warriors have opted to select two overseas professionals in South African Romano Ramoo and Pakistani Kamran Sajjid. Fellow Lahore man Iftikhar Hussein, a pro in the North-West for many years, captains the side, which also includes former Ireland bowler Peter Connell.
Much interest will be taken in 20-year-old Andy McBrine and Johnny Thompson, the sort of player who must regret it has taken so long to introduce interpros. Play starts at 11am and goes on to 6.30pm every day.
No parking is available in the college, but with several commercial sites close by, and easy access to Dart, Luas and bus services, no great effort needs to be expended to support your province.
LEINSTER LIGHTNING
Kevin O'Brien (captain, Railway Union), Ben Ackland (Merrion), John Anderson (Merrion), Bill Coghlan (Clontarf), Patrick Collins (Railway Union), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), Tyrone Kane (Merrion), Fintan McAllister (Malahide), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Eddie Richardson (North County), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Albert van der Merwe (YMCA). Coach: Trent Johnston. Manager: Mark Jones.
NORTH WEST WARRIORS
Iftikhar Hussain (captain, Fox Lodge), Niall McDonnell (Coleraine), David Rankin (Bready), Scott Campbell (Coleraine), David Barr (Bready), Romano Ramoo (Bready), Kamran Sajjid (Donemana), Johnny Thompson (Brigade), Andy McBrine (Donemana), Ricky-Lee Dougherty (Donemana), Andrew Riddles (Ardmore), Peter Connell (Strabane). Coach: Bobby Rao. Manager: Roy Torrens.