According to the Ireland captain, James McCollum wanted to bat with protective boots to support Andy McBrine’s century performance.
Balbirnie Acknowledges Ireland’s Defeat at Lord’s, Shifts Focus to World Cup Qualifiers
Ireland’s captain, Andy Balbirnie, complimented his team for their perseverance on the third and final day of the Lord’s Test, which forced England to bat again after an innings loss appeared likely overnight.
However, he said that Ireland’s final ten-wicket defeat had “not been preparation” for the task that awaits them in Zimbabwe next week for the World Cup Qualifiers.
After Ireland resumed their second innings on Saturday morning with 97 for 3—effectively four down after James McCollum suffered a match-ending ankle injury—and still 255 runs from asking England to bat again after their impressive total of 524 for 4 in just 82.4 overs, the smart money had been on a quick conclusion.
The seventh-wicket partnership of Mark Adair and Andy McBrine, however, combined for a 163-run stand, Ireland’s highest in seven men’s Tests, which brought both batters to the verge of earning a place on the Lord’s Honours boards after Harry Tector overcame his first-day duck to set the tone with an appealing 51.
Ultimately, neither fully succeeded. While McBrine, who had insisted that McCollum not risk aggravating his injury by attempting to help him to three figures, was ultimately left high and dry on 86 not out when the No. 11 Graham Hume was bowled by Stuart Broad shortly after tea. Adair then feathered an attempted ramp shot through to Jonny Bairstow for 88.
“He had the pads on, he had the boot on, it was all a bit chaotic in there,” Andy Balbirnie said of McCollum’s possible late involvement in the innings, when it appeared he might follow in the footsteps of Graeme Smith and Colin Cowdrey of yore and come out to bat at nine-down despite his serious injury.
“Andy entered around teatime and said he didn’t want him to bat. They get along well, and McCollum is hurting a lot. Although it was finally decided that if it were one hit away, he would walk out and hold up an end, he didn’t want him to limp out on the boot.
Nevertheless, Ireland’s doughty displays gave another healthy Lord’s crowd a fun day in the sun. They continued a trend of tail-end resistance from their Test team, with three of their highest partnerships in Test cricket all coming for the seventh wicket.
“[The dressing room] was a tough place to be yesterday, in the evening mainly, but we showed character today, “Andy Balbirnie said. “We’ve shown in our Test career that we have that character – and that bouncebackability – but unfortunately for us, it’s when our backs are against the wall that’s almost when we seem to produce our best cricket.
However, Ireland’s tenacious performances delivered a second healthy Lord’s audience, a fun day in the sun. They continued a pattern of tail-end resilience from their Test squad, with three of their top Test cricket partnerships coming for the seventh wicket.
The dressing room was a difficult place to be yesterday, especially in the evening, but today we showed character, according to Andy Balbirnie. “We’ve demonstrated in our Test history that we have that spirit – and that bouncebackability – but unfortunately for us, that’s when we tend to create our most excellent cricket when our backs are against the wall.
Balbirnie Highlights the Importance of Qualifying Matches and Fixture Concerns
“We need to find a means to stay caught up on a schedule that we must work hard to catch up. But if you can pull ahead by 12, it’s a modest victory that will bring them back to batting. You must undoubtedly celebrate those minor victories after those three days.
The conversation leading up to the Test focused on Ireland’s lack of first-class experience; before their three Tests in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in April, most of the team had yet to participate in a first-class match in four years. And while Andy Balbirnie reaffirmed his plea for more red-ball opportunities, especially on grounds like Lord’s that don’t provide much sideways movement, he also made it quite plain that the team’s first aim right now was to revert to a white-ball approach.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy coming here and playing here, but yesterday was tough, Andy Balbirnie stated. “You’re wondering what we can do in the changing room to acquire wickets to down the run pace. If you play your best cricket, you want to enter a game with the expectation that you can come very close to defeating your opponent. I’m not a fool, though. Everyone recognised the deficit, which has to be filled as soon as feasible. We’ll increase our red-ball cricket games to achieve that. It should happen since it’s evident.
Ireland has a four-day turnaround at home before departing for Bulawayo on Friday to start the crucial campaign. Before beginning their World Cup qualification campaign against Oman on June 19, Balbirnie’s team plays two exhibition matches against the United States and the Netherlands on June 13 and 15.
The top three sides advance to the Super Six stage and have a chance to gain one of the two last places at the main tournament in India this winter after playing further matches against Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the UAE over the next eight days.
Andy Balbirnie was direct about his Lord’s experience and was thinking about the fixture pile-up. “I wouldn’t say it’s been preparation,” he remarked. “I’ve participated in these competitions previously. It’s competitive. Your qualifying tournament is ended if you miss a few of the games. The males must therefore be awake by the time we get to the location.
The games start around 9 a.m., which is pretty early. The timetable needs to be revised. The fact that several of our [Test and white-ball] groups have the same names has made it difficult for me to distinguish between them over the years, but next week is crucial for the one-day team. We had three weeks to try to achieve what I claimed would be my greatest accomplishment as captain—qualifying for that World Cup.
Andy Balbirnie went on to say that he would be turning off from cricket in a mainly domestic way for the time being. He responded, “My wife has informed me I have a cot to paint. “Most of my week will be taken up by the baby born in August. However, there will be enough time to change the pads and go.
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