Ireland look for opening solution

Ireland are desperately attempting to solve their opening problems as they prepare for a must-win ICC World Twenty20 Super Eights encounter with highly-fancied Sri Lanka.

Ireland have struggled to take advantage of their first six overs of fielding restrictions and are yet to forge an opening stand which has reached double figures.

They dropped left-hander Jeremy Bray and replaced him with right-hander Gary Wilson against New Zealand to open alongside captain William Porterfield.

But that partnership failed with Porterfield run out for just one and, as they prepare for tomorrow's match at Lord's, which could end their tournament campaign if they suffer another defeat, it is a problem Ireland's captain believes they must solve.

‘I think it's somewhere we've come unstuck and we've not really had a partnership,’ admitted Porterfield.

‘It's a slight concern because that's the way to restrict teams by taking early wickets and if you lose early wickets you put yourself on the back foot straight away.

‘It's something we've talked about and it's an area we need to address. If we can get off to a better start, both with bat and ball, then it will set us up.’

Ireland have considered moving big-hitting all-rounder John Mooney, who has scored runs in every match, up the order as a pinch-hitter to try to provide a more aggressive start.

Porterfield has struggled to adapt to the demands of international Twenty20 cricket, scoring only 29 runs in three matches, and could drop himself down the order if Mooney moves up.

‘We've been talking about getting off to a good start, a more positive start without being reckless,’ he said. ‘So far we haven't managed to get off to that but it is something we've addressed that we need to do well in those first six overs.

‘Even in the warm-up games I haven't really got off to any start and I've been getting out pretty cheaply. I'm not too concerned with the way I'm hitting the ball, I'm just not getting a score.

‘I know the areas I want to hit the ball, but I've never been a really big hitter. It's something I'm working on, being more aggressive and having more intent.

‘You have to play more shots, but in terms of changing your game you still have to play cricket shots. I'm not saying you have to go out and swing from your hip but you have to make calculated risks.

‘It's about knowing your game and knowing where you're going to score your boundaries.

‘You have to practice and put into practice what you're going to do. (Tillekeratne) Dilshan didn't just come here a couple of weeks ago and start lapping the ball over his head - it's something he's been working on.’

Dilshan's audacious shot, which involves scooping the ball over the wicketkeeper's head, is just one of the problems facing Ireland as they attempt to combat the sling-shot action of fast bowler Lasith Malinga and the dual spin threat offered by Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.

Ireland, though, are determined not to build up the opposition as they approach their biggest challenge yet in the competition and Porterfield said: ‘Like any team we'll speak about them and have a plan about how we're going to go about playing them, but I think it's going to be one of our biggest tests playing against two world-class spinners in the same side.’

Wilson is expected to recover from a slight groin strain sustained during the defeat to New Zealand, while both Niall O'Brien (ankle) and Trent Johnston (shoulder) are also likely to shrug off minor niggles to play.