Chase, Cusack include for pre-World Cup trip

Peter Chase's recent success for Durham has earned him a place in Ireland's squad for the pre-World Cup tour of Australia and New Zealand which begins later this month while Alex Cusack has been recalled after a lengthy period out with injury.

Eddie Richardson, Graeme McCarter or John Anderson are three players closest to potential selection who have been overlooked while Ed Joyce has been rested to allow him to recover from the rigours of the English domestic season.

For Chase, the naming of the squad continues a memorable few weeks which saw him hastily signed by Durham, who were in the midst of a pace-bowling injury crisis, and he subsequently took 5 for 64 to help them to a vital victory against Nottinghamshire which helped preserve Division One status.

"We've opted for Peter Chase who with his height and pace gives us some variety in the seam bowling department," Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach, said. "We've seen just how effective he can be with his performances in the County Championship with Durham in recent weeks."

"Eddie Richardson and Graeme McCarter were unlucky to miss out and were very close to selection along with John Anderson. There are a lot of bowlers in the squad who are very similar to Graeme and Eddie and the selectors felt we needed something different.

Cusack, who has played 51 ODIs, has not appeared for Ireland since May but Simmons said that this tour had always been pencilled in for his return although quite how much part he plays on the field remains to seen.

"He has been in a long period of rehabilitation and is fit to train now," Simmons said. "He will be back training and bowling this week and part of his continued rehabilitation will be in Australia with the hope he is able to play towards the latter half of the tour in New Zealand."

"Alex has been injured before tournaments in the past but topped our bowling averages, so the selectors feel given his past record he deserves the chance to prove he can be fit for the World Cup, and this is the only tour before the final squad of 15 is selected in early December."

Meanwhile, Cricket Ireland felt it was prudent to give Joyce time to manage a degenerative hip condition which needs constant monitoring after he has played a central role for Sussex over the last six months.

Performance director Richard Holdsworth said: "Ed has had a number of niggling injuries over the summer as well as a long-term degenerative hip which he has been managing well for some years with the support of medical staff at both Sussex and Cricket Ireland.

"Ed is 36 years old now and if he is to continue to play at the highest level we need to carefully manage his programme, therefore both Ed and ourselves have decided it is best for him to rest and recover from the season for a good period to ensure he's revitalised for the World Cup."

Squad William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell , John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Andrew Poynter, Stuart Poynter, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Andrew White, Gary Wilson, Craig Young