Ireland boost as Joyce cleared to play

ED JOYCE has been given special dispensation to represent his native Ireland in the 2011 World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) last night confirmed.

While there is good news with the confirmation of Joyce’s return, the ICC declined the request from Cricket Ireland to have New Zealand-born Irish passport holder Hamish Marshall cleared to also take part in the tournament, which starts next February, meaning he won’t be eligible to play for his adopted country until the start of next April.

But Ireland have a huge boost with the return of Joyce. In 2005, the Dubliner qualified to play for England by virtue of his residency there and he made his debut for England in 2006 against Ireland in a one day international. He has slipped out of the reckoning in recent years, however, despite some impressive performances for his club Sussex.