Cricket Ireland name Under-19 World Cup squad

Pembroke's Andrew Balbirnie to captain Ireland's youth squad in the ICC Under-19 World Cup as selectors this morning announced their squad of 15 players for the tournament - which takes place in New Zealand from January 15-30.

Ireland has been drawn in the tough Group B, based in Queenstown, where they will take on Australia, South Africa and the United States in the initial stages. The top two qualify for the quarter finals while the bottom two participate in the Plate Competition.

Ireland reached New Zealand by winning both the European Championships in Jersey, and the World Cup Qualifying tournament in Canada.

“We’ve got a very talented group of players who have been working hard in the gym and the nets to give themselves the best possible chance. They all play at senior level in Ireland and many of them have attracted the attention of English county sides,” said Ireland coach Matt Dwyer – who is confident the squad will acquit themselves well saying.

“They know there’s a Senior World Cup coming up in the sub-continent in 2011, and a good showing in this tournament could well see them joining Paul Stirling in becoming a regular feature in the senior men’s squad,” he added

Squad: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Ben Ackland, Adrian D’Arcy, George Dockrell, Eddie Richardson, Graham McDonnell, Jordan Coghlan, Shane Getkate, Graeme McCarter, Lee Nelson, James Shannon, Stuart Poynter, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Craig Young.