Warriors Blitz Ahead With Youth

The North West Warriors have sprung a surprise or three with their squad for this weekend’s T20 Blitz at Pembroke as Ian McGregor named a trio of Coleraine players in his travelling party of 13.

Rishi Chopra was 12th man for this week’s 3-day trip to Comber- a game the visitors dominated pretty much throughout- and the all-rounder is joined in the T20 squad by his younger brother Varun and Bannsiders’ batsman Marcus Poskitt.

It is a bold move by the North West selectors but one they are to be applauded for as they continue to introduce new young talent into the camp.

There is, of course, no Niall O’Brien in this format and no Ricky-Lee Dougherty either so Poskitt may make the team courtesy of his wicket-keeping skills. He is, of course, no mug with the bat either and while there is a trophy very much up for grabs this weekend, the local Union, quite correctly, are helping the next generation to get an early flavour of what is required.

Graham Kennedy who batted superbly at North Down on Tuesday is also in the squad as is Aaron Gillespie, Ross Allen and William McClintock- all again in the under-23 bracket.

There is, of course, plenty of experience too, and none more so than Ireland skipper William Porterfield who has helped lift the standard still further since arriving on the scene at the back-end of 2017.

A quintet of homegrown Internationals in the Warriors’ squad is completed by Stuart Thompson, David Rankin, Craig Young and skipper Andy McBrine, with man-of-the-moment Davy Scanlon completing the panel.

The Warriors start their programme on Friday morning against Munster Reds and are back at Sydney Parade on Saturday afternoon to tackle Leinster Lightning before completing their schedule at 11am on Sunday against the Knights.