England might not select their top players against Ireland but Kevin O’Brien says that the sheer size of their talent pool means a tough task lies ahead in next month’s ODI.
Ireland host the England in Malahide on 8 May, just three days after the Test side return from a tour of the West Indies.
It will be the side’s first meeting since the 2013 One Day International at the same venue, a match that the visitors won by six wickets, helped by a century from Dubliner Eoin Morgan.
With the tour in the Caribbean and many players unavailable due to club commitments, England will be unable to send a full-strength side.
“Whatever team they pick it’s going to be a very talented squad,” O’Brien told RTÉ Sport.
“You’re going to have some extremely good county players who are knocking on the door of the full England side. I think whoever comes into the team is going to have something to prove.
“Following England’s relatively poor World Cup campaign, I think everyone starts from scratch. Whoever plays against us is going to look to it as an opportunity to put their name in the hat.
“It promises to be another great day.”
"Whoever plays against us is going to look to it as an opportunity to put their name in the hat"
Cricket Ireland are close to announcing their next coach following the departure of Phil Simmons for the West Indies after eight years in charge.
The 31-year-old all-rounder says that he’s excited to be hearing a new voice in the dressing room.
He said: “I think the interview process finished last week so hopefully in the next week to ten days we’ll find out who it is. It’s an exciting time.
“The job Simmo did for us was fantastic. He brought us to the next level from where Adi [former coach Adrian Birrell] left us and ultimately it’s the next coach’s job to do similar.”
