Triple Crown: BTTW talks to the Irish and Welsh captains

While the years may separate new Irish national captain Kyle McCallan and his Wales counterpart Colin Metson, next week's Triple Crown tournament in North Wales will provide a shared experience of sorts.

As the 24 year old McCallan has hopefully as many seasons ahead as the 36 year old Matson has behind him, for both it will be the first time at the helm in an international tournament.

Not that experience will be against either McCallan or Metson as they lead their teams in the annual gathering of the Home Countries.

McCallan had captained Ireland in the match against the MCC. "And I have captained Ireland through the age groups," McCallan said when asked of his captaincy credentials.

For Metson his knowledge was gained as a 300 games for Glamorgan in the County Championship.

The two skippers face similar hurdles in the four cornered tournament also involving Scotland and England Amateurs.

Ireland will be comparatively raw squad weakened by withdrawals brought about mainly through work commitments.

Among those missing are Middlesex bowler Ed Joyce, Peter Davy and Paul Mooney.

McCallan remains optimistic.

"It is an inexperienced squad but very talented."

That outlook is an attribute which McCallan says is a major part of his cricket.

"I am quite positive on and off the field. I don't try to distance myself from the players."

Despite the increasing commitments of the national team members, the resident of Bally Down near Belfast is mindful of their part-time status.

"I try to encourage them to do their best as they're still all amateurs."

Despite the part-time nature of their cricket, McCallan said commitment to the task was the key to erasing the memory of the Shropshire debacle.

"More application and consistency in batting and bowling is what we are looking for."

McCallan is finding his decision to defer his Post Graduate Certificate in Physical Education is assisting his cricket evolution.

"I played for Harlequins in the Northern Transvaal region during the last South African summer and got to train with the Northern provincial squad.

"The whole experience hardened me as an individual living alone and looking after myself," McCallan said.

Metson's task of moulding a team unit is even more severe. The Welsh squad for the Triple Crown is assembled from the various Welsh leagues and players of Welsh heritage in the English league.

The first qualifier is how the former Londoner, Metson, finds himself skippering the closest thing Wales has to a national cricket team.

Truly representative it is not, as the Triple Crown team is assembled by Wales Minor Counties and cannot include Glamorgan first team players.

"Most of our players come from the East Wales and South Wales leagues," Metson said. "North Wales is not as strong although it does have a couple of players in the squad."

There will be more Country experience in the Wales squad in the form of Steve Barwick and Mark Davies, other former Glamorgan pros. They provide the backbone to a side which Matson said can look to batsman, Ryan Sylvester and all-rounder Lyndon Jones for major roles.

With Ireland and Scotland both falling to Minor County opposition in the NatWest Trophy, Wales cannot be discounted as a chance after its showing in the field against Essex.

It removed both Nasser Hussain and Stuart Law to have Essex reeling at 12-4 before the County team scrambled to 154. Wales then melted to be all out for less than 60.