Cricket Ireland will appoint New Zealander John Bracewell as their new head coach in the next few days. He will replace Trinidadian Phil Simmons, who left in March to become head coach of the West Indies.

Pace man Steven Finn was delighted to play a key role in England’s fightback against Australia on a frenetic opening day of the Ashes series.

England’s new-look one-day international side survived a nervy batting display and a dangerous cameo from their Bangalore conqueror Kevin O’Brien to beat Ireland by 11 runs in the RSA Challenge at Clontarf this afternoon.