Ireland answer "mercenary" criticisms

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mar 29 (Reuters) Ireland's Kyle McCallan responded today to criticism that they are relying on overseas players to compete in the World Cup.

Ireland, who progressed from the group stages ahead of 1992 champions Pakistan, play their first Super Eights match against England on Friday at the Providence Stadium.

With an Australian captain in Trent Johnston, an Australian wicketkeeper-batsman in Jeremy Bray and South African all-rounder Andre Botha in their ranks, critics have attempted to undermine Ireland's surprise progression.

''It does take a bit away from our achievement,'' McCallan told reporters. ''People are entitled to their opinions but in a small way it motivates us even more.

''Particularly the guys that are born and bred in Ireland, they want to show that they can compete at this level and I feel they have done and will continue to do so.

''We beat Pakistan fairly and squarely and Niall O'Brien scored 72 not out and Boyd Rankin took 3-30 (sic - it was 3-32).

They are two born-and-bred Irishmen. Other guys in our squad have represented Ireland in under-19 World Cups.'' NOT UNIQUE Ireland are not unique in the way they have foreign-born players in their ranks. England will field Irishman Ed Joyce on Friday as well as South African-born Kevin Pietersen. They also have a history of playing foreign expatriates.

McCallan did admit their non-Irish players are key men and central to their hopes of being competitive, but emphasised that they are not ''mercenaries''.

''These guys are not mercenaries who have flown in to Ireland to play in the Cricket World Cup,'' McCallan added.

''They have contributed to Irish cricket over a prolonged period. Hopefully their kids, in time, will contribute to Irish cricket.

''I'm not going to be naJive, we miss Trent Johnston when Trent doesn't play for us but I would imagine England would miss Kevin Pietersen if he didn't play for them. There's no difference there whatsoever.

''(But) Trent is married to an Irish girl with two (Australian-born) Irish kids and Jeremy Bray has lived in Ireland for as long as I can remember.'' Johnston, meanwhile, said Ireland go into the England game expecting to be competitive rather than expecting to win.

''I don't think you can expect to win against the quality of opposition we're playing,'' Johnston said. ''We're quietly confident we can give them a good show.'' REUTERS PDS BST0050