Delany’s wait goes on after injury wrecks ODI hopes

DAVID Delany’s hopes of making his one-day international debut against the UAE over the next week have been dashed by yet another injury.

The Clontarf speedster — the fastest bowler in the squad — has suffered a recurrence of the knee problem which forced him home early from the T20 World Cup qualifier, also in the UAE, in October 2019.

Delany (23) limped off the field during the middle practice session on Monday citing sudden pain in his left knee and it has been decided to send him home to have a review with his knee specialist.

His replacement is Josh Little who, until yesterday, was assumed to have been already out in Abu Dhabi as he was a member of the original 16-man squad.

However, Cricket Ireland announced yesterday that Little had, in fact, tested positive for Covid before departure, so was immediately quarantined at home in Dublin and could not travel with the party on December 27.

Cricket Ireland, in announcing the Pembroke paceman’s surprise call-up, simply said that: “Little has now completed his quarantine period and has subsequently returned two negative test results with no symptoms displayed. He has been cleared to join the squad.”

It means the playing squad will remain at 15 and the selectors are currently deciding if they will send out a replacement (for Delany) to bring the party up to 16, possibly opening the door for Boyd Rankin to join up.

A breakdown in internal communications within Cricket Ireland was cited as the reason for having not revealed that Little did not travel with the squad, rather than anything nefarious.

Delany made his Ireland debut in September 2019, the first of eight T20 internationals in 39 days. He has not played for Ireland since.