Ireland was well beaten by Jamaica in their second game in the Nagico Super 50 series in Trinidad last night. However the result paled into insignificance when it emerged that star all-rounder John Mooney was returning home due to a stress related illness which was confirmed by the following statement from Cricket Ireland:
“John Mooney is leaving Ireland's tour of the West Indies with immediate effect due to a stress-related illness.
John has been receiving treatment for his condition for some time and has been able to manage it to a sufficient degree to continue playing international cricket.
However, it became clear over the last 24 hours that John’s condition had deteriorated, and the decision was taken to get him home as quickly as possible to resume his treatment. He is returning to Dublin to be with his family this evening and will take no part in the remainder of the tour.
Warren Deutrom Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland said: "John Mooney is an incredibly passionate cricketer who has performed with distinction for Ireland over more than a decade, most recently in December with his Man-of-the-Match performance against Afghanistan in the InterContinental Cup final.
"However, cricketing matters come a poor second where health issues are concerned. The most important thing for John is to get the support and care he needs to aid his recovery - Cricket Ireland will endeavour to do all that it can to aid this process.
"John and his family has asked for privacy while he recovers and I would urge everyone to respect their wish at this difficult time.”
Cricket Ireland are currently liasing with tournament organisers with regards to naming a replacement for John on the tour and a decision on that will be announced in due course.”
Every follower of Ireland cricket will fervently hope that John recovers very soon and can return to the Ireland colours again. He is the latest in a series of international cricketers who have developed a stress related illness, the most recent prior to John, being England batsman Jonathan Trott who had to leave the recent Ashes tour in Australia.
The issue in relation to John completely overshadows the result of last night’s match and indeed almost certainly had a major impact on the Ireland performance. This is perfectly understandable as the Ireland squad is a close knit unit and they spend a considerable amount of time in each other’s company. When one of their number is in difficulty it affects the rest. It’s all very well saying that they are professionals and should be able to deal with it but it is not as simple as that. The squad will recover from this but thankfully they chose compassion for a team mate over a game of cricket.
Ireland had won the toss and batted first. Although William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien put on 54 for the first wicket it took them a full fifteen overs. The intensity Ireland displayed in their triple winning feats of last year was demonstrably missing. Porterfield was caught behind off a wild slash and with the total on 78 O’Brien was harshly adjudged LBW for 35, which turned out to be the highest score of the innings. Alex Cusack and Gary Wilson brought up the 100 in the 30th over when Wilson gave his wicket away with a tame hit to mid-on. From there the batting was reminiscent of England’s travails down under as the last eight wickets capitulated for just 61 runs in sixteen overs with many of these wickets falling to uncharacteristic loose shots symptomatic of a lack of concentration.
The lack of intensity was measured in not just the paltry return of 13 boundaries but more crucially the failure to score of the equivalent of thirty overs of deliveries. Although Jamaica had three Test bowlers in their team, Jerome Taylor, who took three wickets, was playing his first serious game in almost two years after being plagued by injury and Andre Russell, who also took three, had lost confidence and was coming off a four over spell in his previous match when he was smashed for 44 runs. In truth the Afghanistan bowling attack that Ireland demolished at the end of 2013 was much stronger than this Jamaican outfit. That Ireland allowed the amply girthed average off spinner Tamar Lambert to bowl ten overs and take two for 27 was a clear sign that their minds were elsewhere.
To have any chance of victory Ireland needed early wickets and also to field like demons. Although there were some good deliveries, particularly from Tim Murtagh and Max Sorensen who each got a wicket to have Jamaica 52 for 2, there were also far too many half volleys and long hops for pressure to be maintained. However it was the body language of the players in the field that signalled that there was an issue in the camp. Throughout the past few years the Ireland fielding has been the equal of any Test side but last night it was a shambles epitomised by a succession of dropped catches and fumbles in the field. George Dockrell, apart from one over, and young Andy McBrine bowled well but both suffered from the malaise in the field.
Jamaica romped to victory by six wickets with a mammoth twenty one overs to spare, largely thanks to 71 from John Campbell who was fortunate to survive a close LBW decision before he had scored.
Ireland can no longer qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament and play their final match on Friday against the holders Windward Islands. The result of that match is irrelevant in terms of qualification but is of distinct importance in recovering the intensity and focus for the major games that the team face in the immediate future.
File photo: Ireland's Max Sorensen bowling
©INPHO/Barry Chambers
