Moherndl called for Lord's duty

KRIS MOHERNDL has been named as the 12th man for the European XI that takes on the MCC at Lord's next Thursday. The 18-year-old Cobo and Guernsey all-rounder has been given his chance as part of a new initiative to offer the experience to one of Europe's rising talents who impressed the selectors during ICC European Cricket Academy in La Manga last month.

'I'm ecstatic, it's really good,' he said.

'I was pretty shocked as I didn't expect to get as far as I've got. Just the fact I've got there is what I'm most pleased about.

'I'm going to take in as much as I can.'

The XI contains four members of the Irish squad that performed so heroically in the recent World Cup. Also included are five Scots and one each from Denmark and the Netherlands.

The team is led by Irish skipper Trent Johnston, who will open the bowling and provide some big hits in the middle of the order. Opening the batting will be Jeremy Bray who scored a century for Ireland in their first World Cup match with Zimbabwe.

The Netherlands' Bas Zuiderent will open, with Bray with Freddie Klokker of Denmark, Scotland's Ryan Watson, Craig Wright and Colin Smith and Irishman Kevin O'Brien making up the rest of the batting. Along with Johnson the bowling comes in the form of Scotland seamers John Blain and Wright, with spin from Irish off-spinner Kyle McCallan and left armer Glenn Rogers from Scotland.

Either Smith or Klokker will take the wicketkeeping gloves and Adrian Birrell, who stepped down as Ireland's coach after the World Cup, will be in charge of the team.

Moherndl is apprehensive about playing with such top-quality players but is looking forward to the experience.

'I'm pretty nervous but I'm looking forward to training with them as well. And playing at any professional ground is a dream of mine but to play at Lord's especially is pretty decent.'

The match is a return fixture from last year's first ever MCC and Europe game in Rotterdam that the MCC won by five wickets. Guernsey's former Hampshire professional Lee Savident opened the batting for the Europeans in the match and scored seven.

Island manager Dave Hearse was quick to praise Moherndl as he followed in Savident's footsteps.

'It's brilliant news and it's reward for his attitude, industry and skills at La Manga,' said Hearse.

'It just shows if you put the hard work in, you get the rewards out. He should be honoured to represent himself, Guernsey cricket and Cobo and I'm totally delighted for him.

'He's worked hard at his game.'

Moherndl was part of a group of 16 young European cricketers to attend La Manga academy and much of his one-to-one coaching was done with Wright, the Scotland World Cup captain.

'I learnt a lot - just basic things that helped me,' said the 18-year-old.

'The coaches would point out the slightest thing in your bowling action or something in your batting and it would seem simple but it is really beneficial. For instance, they got me to ease up on my run-up and, rhythm-wise, I feel a lot more in control.

'It is all about getting you to that next level and seeing what it is like at professional standard day in, day out. It really opens your eyes to what is needed to progress in the game.'

As well as the technical aspects of the week, the players did a lot of fitness work, especially on the first couple of days.

Moherndl has been doing his own fitness training at King's Life and it proved to be highly beneficial as he performed well in the various tests the group were put through in La Manga.

'The gym was basically the same as the one at King's,' he said.

'I have had three or four personal sessions with Paul Ozanne doing work specific to bowling and batting with the equipment set up to strengthen forearms and other muscles which are integral to cricket.

* BAD weather prevented play between Elizabeth College and the MCC yesterday.