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Ireland sign West Indian Rampaul

category: Cricket

02.05.2008 00:26

Ireland have clinched the signature of West Indian fast bowler Ravi Rampaul for the rest of the Friends Provident Trophy campaign.

The 23-year-old has played 30 one-day internationals and five Twenty20 games for the West Indies and goes into the squad to face Leicestershire on Sunday.

"He's got plenty of pace and movement, has passion for the game, and loves to play," said Ireland coach Phil Simmons.

"He's competitive, which I like. He'll bring a lot to the dressing room."

Rampaul will fill in for all-rounder Andre Botha, who has been struggling recently with an elbow injury.

"It's better for Andre and Ireland to get this sorted now," said Simmons.

"We have some huge tournaments over the next year, and our priority is to get him right for not just the Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers in August, but the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in UAE next April.

"He's played a lot of cricket over the past 16 months, and the rest will do him a power of good."

Rampual will go straight into action for the games against Leicestershire on Sunday and Northamptonshire on Monday.

The game against Northamptonshire will see Ireland come up against Niall O'Brien, the wicket-keeper batsman having previously been part of the Kent side which defeated his fellow countrymen in 2006.



Ireland squad: W Porterfield, A Cusack, P Eaglestone, T Fourie, J Hall, G Kidd, K McCallan, K O'Brien, R Rampaul, P Stirling, R Strydom, A White, G Wilson.

Original text is here

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