Record-breaking big hitter Kevin O’Brien says semi-professional Ireland have nothing to fear as they prepare to take on Australia in their World Twenty20 clash in Colombo next week.
The cheeky O’Brien, whose 50-ball century against England last year is a record for one-day World Cup matches, says Ireland have been boning up on Australia’s tactics with their new consultant, bowling coach Craig McDermott.
McDermott quit his full-time role with the Australian team earlier this year.
Ireland had been ranked ninth in T20, one spot higher than Australia, just a few days ago before George Bailey’s side won the dead-rubber third match against Pakistan in Dubai on Monday to climb back to ninth.
Ireland have a reputation as giantkillers in short-form cricket, upsetting Pakistan in the 2007 one-day World Cup and repeating the dose against England in 2011.
“We can certainly look into this tournament with a lot of confidence,” O’Brien told reporters on Wednesday ahead of the September 19 match.
Associate nation Ireland have gained a place in Group B via the qualifying rounds and are drawn to play Australia and West Indies with two sides to advance to the Super Eights.
Australia have two wins and a no-result from three one-dayers against Ireland and they’ve never met in a T20 game.
“But we certainly know with Craig McDermott on board now, he’s going to give us the inside information into the Australian team,” O’Brien said.
“There’s no reason for us to be fearing anyone in this tournament.
“Paul Stirling at the top of the order, he can take any bowling attack apart as can our captain William Porterfield.
“Throw in the likes of Ed Joyce and Niall (Kevin’s brother) and you’ve got people like myself and Gary Wilson and Trent Johnston (the 38-year-old former NSW seamer) who can clear the rope.
“Boyd Rankin’s our main strike bowler and you’ve got a lot of consistency with our medium-pacers who swing it and you’ve got George Dockrell who’s one of our main threats in the spin department.”
Left-arm spinner Dockrell, who made his T20 International debut as a 17-year-old in 2010, has claimed an impressive tally of 26 wickets at 13.11 in 17 T20 Internationals.
“We know the Aussie team are rebuilding. They’re at one of the lowest ranking points at the moment,” Dockrell said.
“We know just generally as a team we definitely have a huge chance to beat them.
“We’ll be backing ourselves in all aspects from all bowlers to do well against them. But we have the options of spin, with Paul (offspinner Paul Stirling) and myself.”
However Dockrell admitted bowling to the biggest names in T20 such as West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Australia’s Dave Warner would be extremely tough.
