Andrew Balbirnie: Curtis Campher making case to move up order

NICK FRIEND AT THE AGEAS BOWL: The South Africa-born allrounder made an unbeaten half century on debut, before adding a battling 68 from 87 balls in the second game to drag his side to a competitive total

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Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie has suggested that Curtis Campher could move up the order for the final ODI of the three-match series against England, having impressed in his first two international appearances.

The South Africa-born allrounder made an unbeaten half century on debut, before adding a battling 68 from 87 balls in the second game to drag his side to a competitive total, having for the second game in the row seen his side’s top and middle order blown away by the hosts’ opening bowlers and the spin of Adil Rashid.

Arriving at the crease with the visitors 78 for 5, Campher – still only 21 – was the penultimate man out, having taken the total to 207 for 8.

“He’s batting at No.7 now but I’m sure he’s putting a bit of pressure to go up the order,” Balbirnie admitted after his team’s four-wicket defeat.

“He looks at home. His tempo today was very good. He built a nice innings and got us to a respectable total and gave us something to bowl at. He’s very useful with the ball as well. He’s really impressed all of us on a day-to-day basis.”

As England came flying out of the traps in response, Campher checked their progress twice in quick succession, clean bowling James Vince with a fine delivery that nipped back between bat and pad, before trapping Tom Banton in front with a full, quick delivery.

It is the third time he has dismissed Somerset batsman Banton, having had him caught pulling in the first ODI, while he also got the better of him in an under-19 ODI during Campher’s days representing South Africa at age-group level.

“He’s very clear, he’s a great person to captain because you talk to him and he’ll tell you exactly what he wants to try and do and you can set fields to that,” Balbirnie added of his new allrounder.

“He’s got that ability to change the game with the ball. He’s not the tallest guy in the world but he can get one to rise or skid under. He’s been such an impact player for us. I can’t really find any faults in him. He’s got that dogged fight and people want to play with him, bat around him, bowl in partnerships with him. We’ve got to be better as a batting unit.”

^{Balbirnie was dismissed by James Vince}

Balbirnie himself suffered the relative indignity of falling victim to the part-time seamers of James Vince. The elegant batsman, playing on his county’s home ground, was called upon early by Eoin Morgan for his first bowl in ODI cricket. With just five frontline bowlers in the side, Vince is the most experienced part-time option at the England captain’s disposal; both Sam Billings and Banton are wicketkeepers by trade, while Morgan doesn’t bowl and Jason Roy’s days as an occasional medium-pacers appear to be behind him.

Given the surprise at his introduction, Vince bowled tidily – his four overs cost just 18 runs. And he did for Balbirnie with a short delivery that the Ireland skipper could only glide to Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.

“I was caught in two minds,” Balbirnie said. “It was a bit of a brain fade. I’ll be back in the nets tomorrow to try and rectify it.”

He has managed only 18 runs in two innings so far, while Paul Stirling – another experienced head at the top of the order – has contributed just 14. Gareth Delany, having made 22 on Thursday, was given a working over by David Willey, who dismissed him without scoring on Saturday.

While Ireland improved on their first showing – they had found themselves 28 for 5 on Thursday, they soon found themselves 91 for 6 here. There were ugly dismissals for the young pair of Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector, while Kevin O’Brien was undone by a fine Adil Rashid googly.

“It’s tricky, for the second time in a row we haven’t given them a total to bowl against,” Balbirnie added.

“I don’t think we’ve played the greatest shots in the world, particularly myself. I can’t really put my finger on it, whether it’s rustiness or time in the middle, but Curtis doesn’t seem to be struggling so maybe it’s worth having a chat to him over the next couple of days.

“We need to find a bit of rhythm. We’ve only got two days. It’s going to be a new wicket for the next ODI, so we’re going to have to have a sit-down and an honest chat.”

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