Irish determination louder than statistics

Twenty-two-year-old Irish pacer Boyd Rankin is having it easy here. His six feet seven inches frame makes him stand out in the crowd of cricketers here...

Twenty-two-year-old Irish pacer Boyd Rankin is having it easy here. His six feet seven inches frame makes him stand out in the crowd of cricketers here, his boyish good looks make the giggly female volunteers at the media centre swoon over him, and his spell of 10-3-26-1 against Canada in the warm-up game had the reporters making inquires.

Though the frequent flights, the fast bowler8217;s heavy workload at coach Adrian Birrell8217;s energy sapping net sessions, post-cricket rugby games and the long trip from the hotel to the University ground makes for a hectic schedule, but for Rankin it8217;s just a walk in the park. Back home in Ireland, the last two weeks at home were far more punishing for the son of a livestock farmer from Derry. With the lambing season coinciding with the pre-World Cup camp, this is how Rankin8217;s day laboriously unfolded: waking up at 6 am, undertaking a 140-mile journey to the camp for the 11 am to 4 pm training session, returning home at 7 pm and then helping his father till midnight with the various chores of multiple sheep birth all over the farm.

As manager Robert Torrens tells you, 8220;Rankins8217; determination sums up the Irish attitude at this World Cup 8212; we want to do well at all cost.8221; This happens to be their World Cup debut, but Ireland, after two warm-up games, seem the most impressive team among the associate members. After reducing South Africa to 91-8 and thrashing Canada with about half a day to spare, the Irish seem just a step away from the big teams, and miles ahead of the minnows. Such is the excitement surrounding the men in pale green that many feel this happens to be the global unveiling of the true Irish sporting grit on the cricket field.

This major value addition to the game is courtesy a pack that has just two professionals while the rest of the players have day jobs like Rankin. Captain Trent Johnson is a textile salesman, vice-captain Kyle McCallan the most capped Irish player, and all-rounder Andrew White are school teachers. Top order batsman Peter Gillespie is a civil servant working for the pension department, opener Jeremy Bray is a fitness instructor and the man walking out with him to open the innings, Kenneth Caroll, works as a postman.

Ask Torrens when the cricketers will get the reputation of being 8216;tough nuts to crack8217;, like their fellow nationals who play football and rugby, and he says, 8220;We don8217;t want to rush into things, we want to stick to being an ODI nation for some time and graduate only when we are ready,8221; he says. The Irish are too proud to be seen as pushovers or pile-ons at a party, like is the case at this World Cup 8212; they want to be guests that the hosts would open the doors to with a smile.

Ireland have had a steady climb. They managed a clean sweep of all age categories 8212; u-13, 15, 17, 19 and 23 8212; at the European level this year and later made a big impact at the ICC Trophy to make it to the West Indies. But even so, these results haven8217;t quite attracted the sponsors. 8220;The Bank of Ireland supports us and so does the government and the ICC, but as we improve and the tours increase, the cost have spiraled,8221; says Torrens.

Cricket culture has always been there in Ireland, but the contribution of the settlers can8217;t be undermined. Key players of the squad 8212; Johnson, Langford Smith, Bray and Andre Botha have got Australian and South African roots. These, though, aren8217;t urgent imports made for the World Cup, but players who have stayed in Ireland for at least 5 years.

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They have a bare minimum support staff of five; that includes computer analyst Peter Johnson 8212; a former fast bowler who quit after a stress fracture, but is now working as a groundsman and teacher as well. Inform the Irish manager about the 10-plus support staff strength of the other teams and he gives a taste of another future addition to the cricket circuit 8212; Irish humour.

8220;How many of you can take care of 15 blokes, five8217;s more than enough,8221; he says. But he adds that they might hire more when their tours become more frequent and they get into the elite division. And, maybe, that8217;s the time Rankin Senior might have to hire some hands for the lambing season.