“Ed and ourselves have decided it is best for him to rest and recover”
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Ireland have decided to rest batsman Ed Joyce for their upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand later this month.
Joyce has not been included in the 18-man squad since he is being given time to rest and recuperate after a long and arduous domestic season with Sussex.
“Ed has had a number of niggling injuries over the summer as well as a long-term degenerative hip which he has been managing well for some years with the support of medical staff at both Sussex and Cricket Ireland,” Ireland Performance Director, Richard Holdsworth, said. “Ed is 36 years old now and if he is to continue to play at the highest level we need to carefully manage his programme, therefore both Ed and ourselves have decided it is best for him to rest and recover from the season for a good period to ensure he’s revitalised for the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, pace bowler Alex Cusack has been drafted into the side despite not having played any cricket since early May due to an injury.
Ireland head coach Phil Simmons believes that Cusack will be a major asset to the team during the 2015 World Cup, which is why he wants him to get accustomed to the conditions and pitches on this tour.
“Alex Cusack has been one of our best limited-overs bowlers in the last six years,” Simmons told Cricket Ireland. “Although he’s been out of competitive action since early May, the plan was always to take him on tour as long as he had recovered from injury.
“He has been in a long period of rehabilitation and is fit to train now. He will be back training and bowling this week – and part of his continued rehabilitation will be in Australia, with the hope he is able to play towards the latter half of the tour in New Zealand.”
Young seamer Peter Chase has also been brought into the side due to his recent success with Durham.
“We’ve opted for Peter Chase who with his height and pace gives us some variety in the seam bowling department,” Simmons added. “We’ve seen just how effective he can be with his performances in the County Championship with Durham in recent weeks.”
Ireland Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell , John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, Stuart Poynter, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Andrew White, Gary Wilson, Craig Young