Simmons: teen duo are Ireland’s future
Spin bowler Dockrell, 17, and 19-year-old all-rounder Stirling helped take Ireland to the brink of qualification for the Super Eight phase of the event in the West Indies, only for rain in Guyana on Tuesday to intervene and result in their must-win game against England being declared a no-result.
That outcome saw Simmons’ Irish side, who had qualified for the Super Eight stage at both the 2007 World Cup and the 2009 World Twenty20, go out of the competition while England advanced on a superior run rate having hit 191 for five against the West Indies, while Ireland had been bowled out by the hosts for 68.
“It’s nice to see the two youngsters,” Simmons said. “It means we have continuity in our cricket and that in four years’ time they are going to be two of the senior players.”
What has particularly impressed Simmons has been that both players have managed to fill the void created by the retirement of veteran bowler Kyle McCallan and the loss through shoulder surgery of leading spinner Regan West.
“Paul needs to show the world that he can bat and that it’s not bowling he’s there for but when he’s been given the ball, he’s done well,” the Ireland coach said.
“The fact we lost Kyle last year, it’s good to see him come and start bowling because we need one of those in the team. It’s interesting because when Regan West comes back the more competition he has the more people perform so it will be good.”
Irish captain William Porterfield believes a promotion for his team towards Test status will help them keep the likes of Stirling and Dockrell in Ireland shirts for longer periods of their careers.
“In the long run, if we are to progress, we’re going to have to hang on to our bigger players and it’s not going to be easy because we can’t offer them Test cricket. It’s great seeing Irish cricketers coming through and having that drive to play at the highest level and it’s unfortunate we can’t offer them that at the minute.”
