Shoulder to Shoulder: Chastening loss against Afghanistan

[Aislabie]

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Good morning all; as we've now firmly established that I no longer have the wherewithal to keep on top of managing a league, I would like to try something a bit different and have a throwback to the golden age of stories when they used to be numerous enough to have their very own subforum.

My plan is to do a Test match only International Career on International Cricket Captain, focussing on one of four available countries; the tone of the story would be different depending upon which country it is built around. They would be:

Afghanistan (RECEIVED TWO VOTES): One of the two new Test nations, but blessed with a very strong player pool - arguably stronger than is realistic, as you will often see the AI Afghanistan win a World Cup early in the game.
Ireland (RECEIVED FIVE VOTES): The weaker of the two new Test nations, and the one with whom I feel the strongest affinity being technically Irish myself.
West Indies (RECEIVED THREE VOTES): One of the weakest playable countries in the game, especially as the database was created before Jason Holder became the destroyer of worlds that he is today.
Zimbabwe (RECEIVED NO VOTES): The weakest of the established playable countries, but with a strong enough core of players to cause some occasional upsets. Helped by this game not simulating the conduct of their Board.

My personal preference would be to write either the Ireland or Zimbabwe stories, but I don't want to end up doing something that nobody reads.

THANKS TO ALL WHO VOTED. THE STORY "SHOULDER TO SHOULDER" BEGINS BELOW.

 

[Aislabie]

Ireland Test Cricket Records

Spoiler: Highest Innings Total

328 all out vs Pakistan, 2018

Spoiler: Lowest Innings Total

139 all out vs Afghanistan, 2019

Spoiler: Partnership Records

1 - 103 - William Porterfield & Ed Joyce vs Pakistan, 2018
2 - 72 - James McCollum & William Porterfield vs Afghanistan, 2019
3 - 22 - Niall O'Brien & Ed Joyce vs Pakistan, 2018
4 - 51 - Niall O'Brien & William Porterfield vs Afghanistan, 2019
5 - 75 - Kevin O'Brien & Ed Joyce vs Pakistan, 2018
6 - 36 - Kevin O'Brien & Andy Balbirnie vs Afghanistan, 2019
7 - 75 - Andy McBrine & Kevin O'Brien vs Pakistan, 2018
8 - 28 - George Dockrell & Andy McBrine vs Pakistan, 2018
9 - 36 - Tim Murtagh & Andy McBrine vs Pakistan, 2018
10 - 43 - Boyd Rankin & Andy McBrine vs Afghanistan, 2019

Spoiler: Highest Individual Innings

100 (154) - Ed Joyce vs Pakistan, 2018

Spoiler: Best Innings Bowling

4/183 (48) - Andy McBrine vs Pakistan, 2018

Spoiler: Honours Board

100 (154) - Ed Joyce vs Pakistan, 2018

Spoiler: Test Caps

1. William Porterfield vs Pakistan, 2018
2. Andy Balbirnie vs Pakistan, 2018
3. George Dockrell vs Pakistan, 2018
4. Ed Joyce vs Pakistan, 2018
5. Andy McBrine vs Pakistan, 2018
6. Tim Murtagh vs Pakistan, 2018
7. Kevin O'Brien vs Pakistan, 2018
8. Niall O'Brien vs Pakistan, 2018
9. Boyd Rankin vs Pakistan, 2018
10. Paul Stirling vs Pakistan, 2018
11. Gary Wilson vs Pakistan, 2018
12. James McCollum vs Afghanistan, 2019

Spoiler: Medal Winners

Spoiler: Jimmy Boucher Medal

2019: Andy McBrine

Spoiler: Douglas Goodwin Medal

2019: Ed Joyce

Spoiler: Lucius Gwynn Medal

2019: James McCollum

 

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Cricket Ireland announce specialist Test coach along with Pakistan squad

Cricket Ireland have today surprised everybody by announcing former international Kelby Rogerson as a specialist Test match coach while Graham Ford continues to coach the white-ball teams. The leg-spinning all-rounder had a prolific career with both bat and ball before it was ended in 2015 by a freak injury. The real surprise is that he was chosen for the red-ball role given that his headline success in the 2014 Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals would surely have made him a premier candidate for limited-overs coach?

Kelby Rogerson, pictured here during his playing days, has been announced as Ireland's Test match coach.

Cricket Ireland explained that their intention was that, as a figure who had found success as captain alongside the likes of Porterfield, Joyce and the O'Briens, he might be able to similarly inspire them as they adjust to life as Test cricketers.

The selection for the Pakistan Test at Malahide is one which pays tribute to the players that got Ireland into this position:

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John Anderson | Andy Balbirnie | George Dockrell | Ed Joyce | Andy McBrine Leinster Lightning | Leinster Lightning | Leinster Lightning | Leinster Lightning | North West Warriors

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Tim Murtagh | Kevin O'Brien | Niall O'Brien | William Porterfield | Boyd Rankin Middlesex | Leinster Lightning | North West Warriors | North West Warriors | Warwickshire

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Paul Stirling | Stuart Thompson | Gary Wilson Middlesex | North West Warriors | Derbyshire

It is expected that Thompson and Anderson are the two most likely players to miss out, as Rogerson explained at the press conference: "We have plenty of young players who we expect to get dozens of opportunities at Test level, but first it is important that we pay tribute to the players who got them there. The eleven who play at Malahide this week will absolutely have earned their Test caps over the course of many years as Ireland internationals."

 

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Azhar and Pakistan too strong for emotional Ireland

Ireland captain William Porterfield lost the toss on a cloudy morning at Malahide, but after Sarfraz Ahmed sent the hosts in to bat first he revealed that this had also been his intention. As expected, Anderson and Thompson missed out from the squad named before the Test, so Joyce and Porterfield were confirmed to open the batting.

Before a run had even been scored, Joyce edged behind to Sarfraz. The keeper shelled it though, allowing Joyce to score his country's first Test runs. Batting was difficult though, as the three-pronged pace attack of Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali made sure that the Irish batsmen never felt completely in. Joyce could be most satisfied, grinding his way to a top-score of 43 while both Kevin O'Brien and Gary Wilson would be kicking themselves after managing to get out to the very occasional spin of Fakhar Zaman: the Test debutant had never previously taken a first-class wicket, but took two as Ireland crumbled to 188 all out.

Ireland | 188 ao
Ed Joyce 43 (134)|Mohammad Amir 3/46 (23)
William Porterfield 22 (52)|Fakhar Zaman 2/8 (3)

In reply, the gulf in quality between the Pakistani and Irish seamers was clear for all to see. By the end of the second day, Pakistan had advanced to 302 for the loss only of Sami Aslam, who was caught by Kevin O'Brien at short mid-wicket off the bowling of Andy McBrine. Both Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman would post centuries before their 275-run partnership was broken: both batsmen were eventually dismissed by edging McBrine's bowling to Porterfield at slip. The Ulsterman added a fourth wicket as he turned one through the gate of Babar Azam, but by this point Pakistan were fully prepared to declare the innings. Not a single wicket fell to any of the Irish seamers in what should have been helpful conditions.

Pakistan | 506/4 dec
Azhar Ali 196 (406)|Andy McBrine 4/183 (48)
Fakhar Zaman 138 (227)|-

Ed Joyce was a fitting man to score Ireland's maiden Test century.

The Irish second innings had a target of 318 to aim for in order to make Pakistan bat again. One of the pivotal figures in this task was Ed Joyce; the 39-year-old has long been Ireland's best batsman, and was therefore the key man here. Sure enough, he became Ireland's first Test half-centurion 73 balls into his innings with William Porterfield still batting alongside him. Even a small collapse in which four Irish wickets fell for eleven runs couldn't derail the Leinsterman's relentless march towards a 150-ball Test century, the first by an Irishman playing for Ireland. He walked off to a second standing ovation a few balls later as he snicked off to Abbas, later revealing that he was "trying to bat with tears in [his] eyes." The lower-order pair of Kevin O'Brien (71) and Andy McBrine (73) both made bristling contributions that were enough to see Ireland all the way past that mark of 318.

Ireland | 328 ao
Ed Joyce 100 (154)|Shadab Khan 3/43 (13)
Andy McBrine 73 (88)|Hasan Ali 3/91 (18)

But it was a very easy chase.

Pakistan | 11/0
Azhar Ali 7* (16)|-
Sami Aslam 4* (8)|-

Speaking after the game, coach Kelby Rogerson explained that "Today's game wasn't about the result: it was about celebrating everything that this group of players has achieved for Ireland. We will be looking to improve our Test match game of course, but today I just want everyone to feel proud of what they have achieved."

Pakistan won by 10 wickets
Man of the Match: Azhar Ali

 

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Changes to batting personnel for Ireland to face Afghanistan

Ireland Test coach Kelby Rogerson has confirmed two changes to the thirteen-man Test squad for the upcoming match against Afghanistan. "We have to reward our best young players when they perform well in domestic cricket," he told journalist(s), "and both James and Adam have definitely done so."

Young opener Adam Dennison scored three centuries and averaged over 50 in domestic cricket this year.

In the expanded twelve-match Interprovincial schedule, Adam Dennison was the highest run-scorer. He posted 1,220 runs at an average of 50.83 with three centuries, and at only 21 years of age is most certainly one for the future. Meanwhile, James McCollum managed an impressive 843 runs @ 46.83 with two centuries, although it is thought that his stunning white-ball form may also have counted in his favour.

The two batsmen to miss out were Gary Wilson (who failed horribly in the Pakistan match) and John Anderson.

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Andy Balbirnie | Adam Dennison | George Dockrell | Ed Joyce | Andy McBrine Leinster Lightning | Northern Knights | Leinster Lightning | Leinster Lightning | North West Warriors

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James McCollum | Tim Murtagh | Kevin O'Brien | Niall O'Brien | William Porterfield
Northern Knights | Middlesex | Leinster Lightning | North West Warriors | North West Warriors

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Boyd Rankin | Paul Stirling | Stuart Thompson Warwickshire | Middlesex | North West Warriors

Whether either McCollum or Dennison will be granted a Test debut remains to be seen, but there will be at least one debutant for the Afghanistan match. One suspects that after a toothless display from the bowling attack last time out, it may be Stuart Thompson who is preferred so as to provide an additional bowling option.

 

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Afghan bowling too powerful for Ireland

With each team playing their second-ever Test match, Ireland would have entered this one with some aspirations of being more competitive than they were against Pakistan. However, in their recent history, Afghanistan have been the stronger team, as proven by a Test against India that was competitive - even if they did end up losing it by seven wickets. At the toss, captain William Porterfield announced that James McCollum would be making his Test debut as Ireland went with an unchanged bowling attack.

It would be the batsman who would be tested first however, as Porterfield won the toss and chose to bat first. He lost his opening partner within the opening hour and was joined by the debutant McCollum. The young Ulsterman quickly looked at home at the highest level, reaching a chanceless half-century with a crisp cover-drive from the bowling of the uninjured Hamid Hassan. Porterfield would also record a maiden Test half-century before both batsmen fell to Hassan's bowling. The rest of the Irish batting had little to offer in the face of spin from Rashid Khan and Nasir Totakhil; only the O'Brien brothers (31 and 37) reached double-figures.

Ireland | 239 all out
William Porterfield 82 (177)|Hamid Hassan 3/41 (15.2)
James McCollum 50 (101)|Rashid Khan 3/80 (29)

Andy McBrine was again the best of the Irish bowlers, though this wasn't a high bar.

The Afghanistan opening batsmen showed immediate ease against the Irish seamers in admittedly unhelpful conditions: Mohammad Shahzad was the dominant figure in a century opening stand, looking comfortable until he swiped across the line of a McBrine off-break. His partner Shahidullah Mandozai, on his Test debut after impressing in the Ahmad Shah Abdali tournament, breezed to a century and could be forgiven for thinking that Test cricket is rather easy. The Irish bowlers chipped away with wickets at regular intervals, but almost every one of the Afghan batsmen was able to contribute at least 20 or 30 runs to the cause. Ultimately, the finger has to be pointed at the Irish seamers, who contributed little in the way of control to proceedings.

Afghanistan | 424 all out
Shahidullah Mandozai 140 (241)|Andy McBrine 3/65 (17)
Mohammad Shahzad 72 (121)|George Dockrell 2/60 (23.3)

Ireland will already be growing used to starting innings with a sizeable deficit, but they were completely unprepared for a hostile spell from Sayed Shirzad which sent all of the top three batsmen back to the pavilion inside the first 25 minutes of play. When Hamid Hassan then also chipped in with two middle-order scalps to reduce the Irish to 52 for five, the game was pretty much up. Andy Balbirnie hung around for a while, and Andy McBrine had a bit of a dart with only the tail-enders for company in a bid to make Afghanistan bat again, but ultimately it was all for nought. When Nasir Totakhil rearranged Boyd Rankin's stumps, it rather had the feel of a mercy killing for Ireland.

Ireland | 139 all out
Andy Balbirnie 34 (42)|Sayed Shirzad 3/35 (7)
Andy McBrine 33* (36)|Nasir Totakhil 3/40 (7.3)

After the game, coach Kelby Rogerson couldn't hide his disappointment. "We were the second-best team in this Test match and it wasn't close. This is a real disappointment, because we have players in the group who are more than capable of putting up a fight. I do wish to congratulate Andy McBrine on having another excellent Test match, and James on his debut, but we really must do better in the future."

Afghanistan won by an innings and 46 runs
Man of the Match: Shahidullah Mandozai

 

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Irish performances celebrated at end-of-season dinner

At their end-of-season dinner, Cricket Ireland announced a selection of medals that would be awarded each season to a selection of leading players. These included medals for the best player and individual performance in each of the three formats, in addition to a specific award for the best emerging player in Test cricket. When asked why this was a specific Test award, Warren Deutrom explained that he wanted to encourage players to pursue red-ball success, even when white-ball opportunities might be more lucrative.

Jimmy Boucher Medal for leading Test cricketer

Andy McBrine - 125 runs @ 41.67 and 7 wickets @ 35.43 in 2 matches

One of the very few players to come out of that trying first year of Test cricket with real credit was Andy McBrine, who showed admirable tenacity in standing up to be counted whenever his team needed him. He was the only reliable wicket-taker in an often uninspired bowling attack, but also showed with innings like his 73 against Pakistan and unbeaten 33 against Afghanistan that a promotion in the batting order may soon be on the cards.

Douglas Goodwin Medal for best Test performance

Ed Joyce - 100 (154) vs Pakistan, 2018

There could only really be one winner of this medal: Ireland's maiden Test century, for arguably their finest-ever red-ball batsman. It was an innings that salvaged real respectability on the Irish team's Test debut against a far stronger side, and a piece of history that can never be re-written.

Lucius Gwynn Medal for an emerging Test player

James McCollum - 50 vs Afghanistan on his Ireland debut.

An innings of definite class on debut marked James McCollum as a player worth persisting with. Although he was unfortunate to be dismissed without scoring in the second innings, the Lucius Gwynn Medal is richly deserved.

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The medals for the other formats were as follows:
Trent Johnston Medal for leading ODI cricketer
Ed Joyce - 373 runs @ 46.63 (2 centuries) in 8 matches

Andre Botha Medal for best ODI performance
William Porterfield - 145* vs Afghanistan, 2018

Alex Cusack Medal for leading T20I cricketer
Kevin O'Brien - 247 runs @ 20.58 and 12 wickets @ 21.41 in 12 matches

John Mooney Medal for best T20I performance
Barry McCarthy - 4-0-13-4 against Netherlands, 2018

 

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New fast bowlers for big England game

For their very first Test match against neighbours England, Ireland have made a couple of changes to their personnel. Gone are Stuart Thompson and Tim Murtagh, with younger seamers Barry McCarthy and Peter Chase preferred. All of the batsmen have retained their places in the squad, although rumours are that Paul Stirling may miss out on the final XI.

Barry McCarthy, winner of last year's John Mooney Medal, has been rewarded with a Test call-up.

McCarthy struggled last year with Durham in the County Championship, but has found some success both in the Ireland white-ball teams and in his season-opener this year for his county. It is on the back of this form that he has been selected for his maiden Test squad. Also called up is Peter Chase. He has been out of the Irish team for the past year, but a solid season for Leinster sees him now in line for a Test call-up.

Tim Murtagh looks like he may be out of time at the highest level - age catches up with even the most metronomic seamer in the end - while Stuart Thompson will be smarting at his omission and looking to return as soon as possible.

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Andy Balbirnie | Peter Chase | Adam Dennison | George Dockrell | Ed Joyce Leinster Lightning | Leinster Lightning | Northern Knights | Leinster Lightning | Leinster Lightning

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Andy McBrine | Barry McCarthy | James McCollum | Kevin O'Brien | Niall O'Brien Surrey | Durham | Northern Knights | Derbyshire | North West Warriors

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William Porterfield | Boyd Rankin | Paul Stirling North West Warriors | Kent | Middlesex

With Paul Stirling's place apparently under threat, the composition of the playing XI is still uncertain.