WC Trivia - Second World Cup for the Second Nation..

The match at Mirpur was looked forward with interest as it was sort of match between equals.  Bangladesh could not afford to lose this match and Ireland was expected to give them a run.  In the end it was more comfortable a victory than the 27 run margin that was recorded.    Bangla were bowled out for 205 but Ireland’s chase was never truly on.  

After their last WC performance when they beat Pak & Bangla, lot was expected of them.  There were many known faces – Porterfield, Brien brothers, Boyd Rankin and Ed Joyce.

Ed Who ?   Yes the same Joyce who played for England in the last version of WC  topscoring 75 against Kenya !    Ed Joyce  is playing his second World Cup for his second country and homeland.

He has played for Sussex, Middlesex and England and then decided to switch to his country of birth to have a rebirth in International career.  It was a special dispensation of the ICC.  Edmund Christopher Joyce was born in 1978 in Dublin – a left handed batsman and bowls right arm medium.   He should consider himself luckier as similar dispensation was not granted to Hamish Marshall who had also requested to play for Ireland after shifting from New Zealand.  Hamish John Hamilton Marshall  played for NZ in 2007 WC but will be eligible only after April.   Generally 4 years is the qualification period for the shift.   Ed Joyce had his Irish background and strong ties from his childhood in his favour.   Joyce selection helped Ireland’s cause in the ICC trophy. 

marshall twins - james throws ; hamish looks

Hamish Marshall on the other hand was born in Auckland and played the last of his 66 ODIs against Ireland at 2007 WC.  Remember he played for Royal Bengal Tigers  in ICL.  He played in 13 tests and 66 ODIs – made his test debut against SA in 2000 and was known to be a good fielder.  His twin brother James Andres Hamilton Marshall also played for Newzealand in 7 tests and 10 one dayers.

Regards – S. Sampathkumar