Foursome ready to take on the world

Foursome Graeme McCarter, Scott Campbell, Ryan Hunter and Andrew McBrine are all in Ryan Eagleson’s squad, who take on old rivals England on Sunday, before facing the hosts next Tuesday and then 24 hours later finishing off Group A with an interesting game against Nepal.

For Donemana duo Hunter and McBrine they are looking forward to the competition Down Under and know just how tough it is going to be if they harbour hopes of getting out of the group.

“We are all looking forward to the World Cup starting, we had a week’s training camp in Darwin before moving up to Brisbane,” admitted McBrine.

“We start off against England and we know it’s going to be tough, in fact they beat us in two warm up matches recently, but anything can happen in a game of cricket on the day, so you never know.

“It’s good for the North West that there are four of us in the squad, it also helps us settle in better.”

McBrine like every young cricketer up and down the country, but especially in Donemana, is hoping one day to get a call-up to the senior Ireland side.

“It’s one of my ambitions to hopefully one day play for Ireland seniors, but I have to take one step at a time; firstly do well for my club side Donemana and then look to progress through the under age ranks with Ireland and then look to try and force my way into the senior set-up.”

Hunter, who is McBrine’s team-mate at the Holm, certainly has brought his current form onto Australia, because in their opening warm-up game in Darwin he scored an impressive 94 runs against Northern Territory U19 side, while in the second game against Northern Territory senior XI he notched up 45 runs.

“I have been batting well for my club and hopefully I can carry that on with Ireland,” conceded Hunter.

“We need to quickly gel well as a team and make sure that everyone gives 100 per cent in every game.

“We have trained well and have had the backing from Cricket Ireland in terms of finance. Our ambitions is to try and knock over one of the big teams, then beat Nepal and see where that takes us.”

Hunter also admits, like McBrine, it’s good that there are a few players from the North West, as it makes him settle in well.

“Unfortunately with Australia so far away no one from my family is going, so it’s nice to have Andy in the squad along with Graeme and Scott, but I know that via facebook, twitter and phone calls my family will be keeping track on how we are doing.”

McCarter has also done very well in those games scoring 40 runs in their second game, while he was the pick of the Irish bowlers in the first game taking 4 wickets for 52.