The build-up to Ireland’s ICC World Twenty20 game with England tonight has intensified following the England’s defeat to the West Indies yesterday.
Tonight’s game is a must-win for both countries, in order to advance from their group with rain is forecast to interrupt play.
The meeting of the rivals at the Guyana National Stadium, the first since they met in Georgetownat the Super Eight stage of the 2007 ICC World Cup which England won by 48 runs, has an added dimension with Dubliner Eoin Morgan lining out for England against his former team-mates.
Niall O’Brien will win his 100th cap for Ireland tonight and the Northamptonshire wicketkeeper says there will not be bad blood between the Irish team and Morgan
‘Eoin’s been a team-mate of mine for many years and a good friend who I speak to quite often during the county season,’ O’Brien said.
‘So it’s going to be interesting but we’ve been here before in Guyana, playing against an Irishman playing for England and that day ended well for us with Joycey only getting a couple, so hopefully it’s going to be the same thing on Tuesday.
‘Once we’re out there there’ll be no friendships on the pitch.’
