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Ahead of their first game the Irish are quite pumped up
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Kevin Curran, who played two World Cups in 1983 and '87 before moving into
coaching, took umbrage at the suggestion that Zimbabwe might be underdogs
for Thursday's encounter against an Irish team that nearly upset South
Africa in a warm-up game last week. Curran admitted that it was a
challenge to coach a young side, but was confident that he had the players
with the quality to start the World Cup on the right note.
"We've lost a lot of our senior group of players, and that's left a dent,"
he said. "But the new group has responded well and is improving all the
time. Prosper Utseya, the offspinner who captains the side, said that his
players were ready - "We'll give it our best shot" - and weren't too
affected by news of further strife back home. "Now that the guys are here,
we're concentrating on playing the games."
For Ireland, who make their World Cup debut, it will be a momentous
occasion. Already, the near-saturation coverage back home has amazed the
squad, though Trent Johnston, the captain who learnt his trade in New
South Wales, laughed off suggestions that the side could eclipse Brian
O'Driscoll's rugby heroes. "By all accounts, it's amazing back home," he
said. "Our [board] president brought over clippings of full-page articles
in the newspapers, and there's been lots of coverage on Sky as well. The
match starts at 2:30 in the afternoon there, so it'll be prime-time
viewing."
Curran preferred to highlight Zimbabwe cricket's admittedly few
positives, one of which is the new generation coming through. He mentioned
Andy Flower, a world-class performer who departed for Essex and South
Australia in 2003, as an example of how even the best needed time to
mature. "At the age of 20, he was an average player, and I hope he
respects me for saying that. But by the age of 30, he was averaging over
50 in Tests. So it takes time."
Time is something that's running out for Adrian Birrell, whose time at the
coaching helm runs out after this competition. "Maybe you guys should
bring your recorders into the room for the last team talk [ahead of the
final game against West Indies]," said Johnston with a laugh. "Maybe a box
of tissues as well."

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Kevin Curran doesn't want to look too far ahead: "We've not played Ireland before. They're a solid outfit and have had good recent results, and we'll give them respect'
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Birrell, a South African, was in no doubt as to what had impressed him
most about Irish cricket. "It's the passion for the game," he said, "the
time, effort and money spent to keep the game going." It hasn't always
been easy, with the likes of Ed Joyce shifting loyalties to England after
making a mark on the county circuit. Eoin Morgan, who plays for Middlesex,
could be the next to take that path, especially after his outstanding
double-century against UAE in the ICC Intercontinental Trophy recently.
"It could end up like that," said Birrell, when asked if the Irish cricket
team could eventually comprise professionals who played their game abroad,
much like the national football team. "I'm delighted for Ed [Joyce]," he
said. "Maybe he didn't feel he could achieve his ambitions with Ireland,
and for most players, it's about having a professional career."
For Johnston, whose parents have come over from Australia to watch, it
will be a proud moment, but not one that will overawe him. "We beat West
Indies three years ago in Belfast," he said. "Obviously, it'll be
different here with 20,000 spectators in [for the West Indies game]. The
atmosphere yesterday [West Indies-Pakistan] was unbelievable, and even
when we played South Africa in Trinidad, the crowd were going bananas for
us."
The team that wins can then dream of the impossible, a place in the Super
Eights. With West Indies so mercurial and Pakistan weakened by the absence
of some key players, an upset can't be ruled out. But Curran isn't looking
that far ahead. "It's the first game, and we want to treat all three the
same," he said. "We've not played Ireland before. They're a solid outfit
and have had good recent results, and we'll give them respect.
"If people want to say that they're favourites, then great. I know what
we're capable of. We competed well in the Caribbean last year, and I'd
like to think that we can go from strength to strength."
First, he and his wards will have to overcome the luck of the Irish.
Dileep Premachandran is features editor of Cricinfo