Simmons: no-one underestimates new and improved Ireland

IRELAND coach Phil Simmons insists no side in the world would dare take liberties with cricket’s international giant-killers.

With Ashes celebrations still in bloodstreams, England switch to limited-overs mode today at Stormont and have sent a full-strength side no doubt wary of a shock in the one-day international.

They have already displayed their own vulnerability this summer by succumbing to Holland in the World Twenty20 while Ireland reached the second stage of that competition by defeating Bangladesh, one of the two sides, along with Pakistan, they beat in their joyous 2007 World Cup campaign.