Ireland To Take On The Randwick Petersham Cricket Club In Lead Up To The World Cup

The Irish cricket team will come to Australia in February next year to take part in a training camp that will include a one day match against Sydney Grade club Randwick Petersham.

The current holders of the Sydney Grade T20 title will host Ireland for five days between the 2nd and 6th of February, 2015, providing a training base at their home ground of Coogee Oval.

A Randwick Petersham Invitation XI, will then play the Irish in a 50 over match at Coogee Oval on Friday 6th February starting at 10 am.

The Randwick Petersham team will include the majority of the current First Grade side with the possibility of appearances from Simon Katich and Nathan Hauritz, should commitments allow.

The Irish, who have been responsible for some major wins in One Day cricket on the international stage, including a World Cup victory over Pakistan and a tie with Zimbabwe in the 2007 World Cup, plus a famous victory over England in the 2011 World Cup, where they chased down 329 to win, will field an experienced side that will include Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien and Kevin O'Brien, with former West Indian batsman Phil Simmons as coach.
Randwick Petersham President Mike Whitney is delighted that his club is able to host Ireland: "Having Ireland over in Sydney is great news for all cricket fans and Randwick Petersham Cricket Club are delighted that we are able to host them during their time here. It will be a great thrill for our players to watch them train and our match against them at Coogee Oval on Friday the 6th of February should be a cracker, with our guys keen to test themselves against a quality International side. We hope that all the Irish fans in Sydney can come down and enjoy the day."
Richard Holdsworth, Cricket Ireland Performance Director commented: "The Ireland cricket team is very much looking forward to its training camp at Randwick Petersham Cricket Club in February next year, and playing against the club side at the end of this camp. We are extremely grateful to the club, local council and sponsors for supporting Cricket Ireland in our preparations for the Cricket World Cup.

We know there are 1.9 million people in Australia with Irish ancestry and over 50,000 Irish born living there now - we hope that many of them will come and support us in the World Cup and this preparation period will be a chance for many to get closer to the players."

TIMETABLE

2 - 5 February 2015 - Ireland to train each day at Coogee Oval

6 February - Randwick Petersham v Ireland at Coogee Oval. 50 over match. 10 am start

For more information contact David Townsend on 0425 841 393