Reckless and Naive batting leave Ireland with many questions to answer

To stick or to twist? It is so often one of the toughest decisions that can enter someone’s mind, especially when you’re a batsman. Unfortunately for Irish Cricket in the shortest format, it is a question that seems to be madly mind-boggling. When they stick, they don’t score. When they twist, they get out. Anything bordering on an actual plan seems to be far-fetched. Changes surely must be made.

A thumping defeat at the hands of Afghanistan today at Bready summed up where the batting unit lies at the moment. Chasing what by no means was an above par score of 160, the batting line-up crumbled. It wasn’t for the first time that this has been the case.

Paul Stirling, so often one of the most dangerous players of the shortest format when wearing a bright pink Middlesex jersey, has been positively lukewarm wearing the illuminous green recently. Then comes one of the questions that I must put forward. Stuart Thompson, a number 3 batsman for his interprovincial side is opening ahead of regular Twenty20 openers, William Porterfield and Andrew Balbirnie. I see where they are coming from, with Thompson perhaps being able to act as a pinch-hitter. However, at International Cricket level, “I see where they are coming from” tends not to cut it. Opening with Balbirnie could be seen as an opportunity, with the Pembroke batsman looking like he needs a change of scenery from the middle-order. It’s not like he is untested either, as he has proven to be one of the more destructive domestic batsman in this format. All while opening the batting.

Also, a case could be made for Simi Singh batting higher than seven. A man with one of the best club and interprovincial records for years is being wasted at that position. His place in the team seems to lie as a bowler who bats. Despite most people who know Simi well, would agree that he is a batsman who bowls. However, in both Balbirnie and Singh’s cases, they’re performances with the bat haven’t quite been befitting of players that deserve promotions. One must question why neither seem to quite show the same sort of authority that they show week in, week out. Maybe the answer is something different, new faces, new approach.

One of the bright sparks to both games so far has been the emergence of Josh Little. The Pembroke Left-armer has shown himself to be very well equipped to a tough international level. However, due to his ability to perform, is there a case to be made for other young players to get the nod also. Right as we sit here on the back of two Irish failed chases, the Irish Academy side has racked up a trophy win in London, scoring regularly at nine/ten an over in their three T20 games. Now I’m not suggesting that the standards both teams are facing are anyway equal, but it is food for thought nonetheless. If Little can do it on a bowling front, could the likes of Gareth Delany, the Tector brothers, Stephen Doheny and Neil Rock do it for the batting? One won’t know if one doesn’t try. The current batting unit seems to be plagued with fear, bereft of ideas. Fresh faces could well be the answer.

What is the biggest shame about today’s performance was the fact that it didn’t back up what was a very accomplished bowling and fielding effort. Led by a masterful spell by Boyd Rankin (2-14) and good efforts from Chase (3-35), Dockrell (1-19) and Singh (1-23), they restricted the Afghans to 160. A perfectly respectable score given the grounds small boundaries and relatively quick and zippy outfield. Yet, the Afghanistan team didn’t have to sweat, the chase in effect was finished by the end of the fourth over.

This is Ireland’s seventh consecutive defeat to Afghanistan in this format. The teams that were once inseparable now have a massive gulf within Twenty20. The hope for Ireland is that they can restore parity in the remaining T20 fixture and the three One-Day games, which are undoubtedly their better suit. Although, in an era where T20 cricket is constantly evolving, Ireland must learn or try a different approach. They are after all on the basement ranking of 17th in this format of the game, it can’t get any worse.

Today was just a performance that brought all the batting troubles straight into the limelight. The batting effort was simply not good enough. It lacked intent, thought and most importantly, execution. Ireland have a chance to put some things right come Friday Evening. However, given today’s display, they will have to go a long way to get to where they need to be.