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Ireland names winter squad
Ian Callender, Newsletter
Molins (right), who led Ireland in their most successful season as they reached the finals of both the World Cup and the Inter-Continental Cup, was dropped from the squad that won the latter competition in Namibia and, at the moment, he intends playing club cricket in London, where he works. He confirmed yesterday � his 31st birthday � he would be travelling over most weekends once training resumes next month � but he also said that he was desperate to get back his international place and that could mean a return to club cricket in Ireland. "I want my place back and if that means coming back at weekends to play in Dublin, Belfast or Derry then I will listen to offers. Although I had a poor 2005, I scored a half century in my last innings (against Holland at Stormont) and I have a proven record against top class opposition. I am still having trouble with the shoulder I injured in the ICC Trophy semi final against Canada, and indeed am seeing a specialist this week, but I played on after the injury and will never use it as an excuse for my form" said Molins. The most interesting name in the winter squad is Dave Langford-Smith. The Phoenix pace bowler, who played AGAINST Ireland for MCC in the two one-day internationals at Bangor and Waringstown last summer, is the third Australian to qualify as an Ireland resident and will be eligible to play for his adopted country in the busiest ever season. Ireland have used 22 players in each of the last two years so it is hardly over indulgence on the part of National Coach Adrian Birrell to invite 31 to winter training, as the countdown to the ICC World Cup finals gets under way. As well as Langford-Smith, there are first appearances in a senior squad for Bready's Trevor Britton and Kenny Carroll of Railway Union, both currently in South Africa at the ICC Winter Training Camp and Glendermott all rounder Johnny Thompson, who had to return home early from Pretoria because of injury, will also get his chance to impress at the indoor nets. In a bid to strengthen the pace bowling options, Birrell has called up Lisburn's David Simpson while Ireland Under 19 wicket-keeper Fintan McAllister is also included for the first time. Of last year's playing squad, apart from Gordon Cooke who has retired, only Naseer Shaukat's career appears to be over although Ed Joyce, expected to play for England A this winter, has not been named. An 'A' game for England would rule Ireland's most gifted batsman out the World Cup reckoning. The other players who were named in the provisional squad for the ICC Trophy and who retain their place in the winter training squad are North Down batsman Ryan Haire, Waringstown slow left armer Gary Kidd, plus Kevin O'Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Roger Whelan and Thinus Fourie. Full squad:
© CricketEurope 2011
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Jason Molins is prepared to return to club cricket in Ireland if it is the only way he can regain his place in the international team. The deposed Ireland captain was yesterday named in the winter training squad and while there was never any doubt he is still among the best 30 cricketers in the country there is no guarantee that he will be in the team that plays Hampshire in the first C & G Trophy game on April 23.
