Ireland cricketers face World Cup winners Australia

As the Ireland cricket team complete final preparations for a World Cup showdown in Australia, all-rounder Andrew White says they have nothing to fear from the men ‘Down Under’.

Speaking from Barbados, the University of Ulster graduate said today’s game with the three times world champions will be an amazing experience for the squad.

"We have no reason to fear playing against Australia. We have nothing to lose and while it will be one world-class player after another we know that on many occasions different players on our side have performed well against the top sides," said White.

Despite the prospect of facing Gilchrist, Ponting and McGrath, the Irishmen will be holding nothing back in the face of such talented cricketers.

"If we perform to our maximum and they beat us, well then that’s the way it’s meant to be. However, if all 11 of us leave nothing behind and give 100 per cent then no-one can ask for more," he said.

After outstanding results in the group stage, beating Pakistan and drawing with Zimbabwe, the Super 8 stage has been much of an anti-climax as expectations in Ireland grew but this is not how the players see it. 26-year-old Andrew explains: "We knew that after the overwhelming experience of the group stages that keeping the momentum going was going to be very difficult.

"However, these are moments we could only dream about and win, lose or draw we are excited about every challenge put in front of us."

He continues: "We have coped well so far against some outstanding cricket teams but we haven’t finished yet and we want to finish with a big effort. After all, we are living schoolboy dreams."

(JM)