CRICKET: Northern Knights announce winter training squad

The International Cricket Council has awarded first class status to domestic cricket in Ireland as the associate member moves closer to Test status. The Inter-Provincial Championship will be a first class competition from next season while the country’s T20 and 50-over competitions have been elevated to List A status.

Ireland coach John Bracewell said: “First-class cricket is the vital link between part-time cricket and the full commitment of the international game.

“The squad is a mixture of senior cricketers and emerging players, and the Knights management hope that with an intense winter’s training, the emerging players will be able to push for first team selection during the summer.”

New Northern Knights Coach Simon Johnston said the interprovincial series offered an excellent opportunity for each member of the squad to make their mark.

“I am delighted with the make-up of our winter training squad. With the recent announcement of First Class Cricket the interprovincial series presents a fantastic opportunity for all the players involved and we believe our squad has a nice blend of both established and younger emerging players. 

“We have put together an intensive winter programme which it is believed will help underpin a strong 2017 campaign. It is our aspiration to see a greater number of Knights cricketers pushing on for higher representative honours.” 

Northern Knights Winter Training Squad:

A Berry, M Berry, S Bunting, A Dennison, C Dougherty, P Eaglestone, M Gilmour, A Haggan, G Kidd, C Lewis, J Mitchell, L Nelson, J Shannon, A Shields, Nikolai Smith, G Thompson, J Van de Merwe.

Players studying at University, playing abroad or on English County Cricket contracts are unavailable for the winter training panel.

S Getkate, J Magee, C Moorehead, J Mulder, G McCarter, J McCollum, J Magowan, R McKinley, Nathan Smith, M Adair (Warwickshire County Contract), P Stirling (Middlesex County Contract), G Wilson (Derbyshire County Contract).