Leprechauns return to Amsterdam
Two years on from a famous success in the Amsterdam Cricket Festival, the Leprechauns have been invited back to compete at the VRA Grounds in the 2019 Cricket Festival where they will take on the Dutch Under 19, De Flamingo’s and the Free Foresters from the UK.
The Leprechauns are also delighted to announce Veritas Books as the primary sponsor for the tour, with all team-kit for the trip sporting the Veritas brand who are celebrating 50 years in book publishing this year. The tour will take place in the 26th – 28th June with the Leprechauns playing 3 games at Amstelveen sports grounds with 2 x 50 Overs Clashes and a 40 Overs clash to end the week.
The Leps have assembled a very strong touring party with representation from 11 Irish clubs in a squad of 14 players. All have played 1st XI cricket in the Senior Leinster leagues and there are also strong representative players included in the panel.
Veteran of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Kenny Carroll leads the bigger names alongside interprovincial players Jeremy Benton and Robert Forrest from the Munster Reds whilst there is plenty of talented youth in the squad with Ben White, Nathan Rooney, Adam Chester, Harry Archer and Andy Kavanagh all touted for higher honours in the future.
Leprechauns Secretary Dick Forrest said;
“After a memorable trip two years ago, we are most grateful to Wulf van Alkemade and our counterparts in the Netherlands, De Flamingo’s, for inviting us back to Amsterdam this year. Our touring squad has a fantastic blend of youth and experience. It’s important that we have an elite side and I firmly believe this is the strongest squad we’ve assembled in recent years. It’s a wonderful opportunity/test for the next generation of Leps to strut their stuff, both on and off the field. Am also delighted that our President (& next year’s Cricket Ireland President) Philip Black will be joining us.”
Squad in Full:
- Harry Archer (Rush)
- Kashif Ali (Balbriggan)
- Alec Barrett (Pembroke)
- Jeremy Benton (Cork County)
- Kenny Carroll (Railway Union)
- Adam Chester (Phoenix)
- Robert Forrest (Clontarf)
- Andy Kavanagh (The Hills)
- Hugh Kennedy (Merrion)
- Andrew Leonard (Pembroke)
- James Newland (Malahide)
- Nathan Rooney (Balbriggan)
- Sam Streek (YMCA)
- Ben White (Phoenix)
Fixtures:
All at VRA Cricket Ground, Amsterdam
Wednesday June 26 vs Netherlands Under 19s - 12pm (50 Overs)
Thursday 27 vs Flamingoes - 11am (50 Overs)
Friday 28 June vs Free Foresters - 10am (40 Overs)