Ireland coach ready for South Africa test
Monday, 5 March 2007Ireland coach Adrian Birrell hopes his side can get their Cricket World Cup preparations off to a positive start with a competitive display against South Africa today.
The Irish face a step up in intensity ahead of their World Cup bow as they face the world's top-ranked side in a warm-up match in Trinidad.
The match should be a good test for Birrell's team as they prepare for a tournament in which they must do battle with hosts West Indies, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
'Our preparation has been ideal and what we hope to achieve at most is being competitive,' said Birrell, who is stepping down after the tournament.
'It is difficult to think that we can beat the number one team in the world but it will do us the world of good just to be competitive against these guys.
'We will decide on our final team just before play and we have already set ourselves certain milestones which if achieved we will be very happy, no matter what is the result.'
