Skip to content

Ed Joyce rested for Ireland's tour of Australia and New Zealand

Ireland's Ed Joyce watches his shot to make his hundred during the second One Day International (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Ireland at Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin on May 26, 2013.
Image: Ed Joyce: Rested from Ireland's tour

Ireland have opted to rest Sussex batsman Ed Joyce for their tour of Australia and New Zealand, which starts later this month.

Joyce will stay at home to recover from an arduous domestic season, although the 18-man party does include players who have been involved in the County Championship.

Performance director Richard Holdsworth said: "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.

"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."

Medium-pacer Alex Cusack is included after a season curtailed by injury with coach Phil Simmons hopeful he will be able to play a full part as Ireland build up towards the World Cup - they will play eight 50-over fixtures between September 30 and October 23.

"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.

Latest Cricket Stories

"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."

Chase makes cut

Emerging seamer Peter Chase is also named after his recent successes with Durham and Will Porterfield keeps the captaincy.

"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."

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.

Around Sky