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Ireland Wolves’ Shane Getkate on cricket life; Head Coach Pete Johnston on Wolves squad update

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PRETORIA, South Africa – After playing in the successful five-match T20 series against Namibia over the last week, Ireland Wolves’ Shane Getkate was enjoying the return to his country of birth and looking forward to a big finish in the upcoming two-match 50-over series, before immediately boarding a flight for India to join the senior men’s squad.
Durban-born Getkate claimed seven wickets at an average of 22.71 during the T20 series, and while only getting limited opportunities with the bat, during his two innings he scored his runs at a 200.07.

Speaking from the team hotel today, he said:

“I’m delighted to be back in South Africa – it’s a place close to my heart. It’s a passionate sporting country with plenty to do, and while I’ve personally never been to Pretoria before, I’m sharing a room with Curtis Campher and he has been filling in my knowledge.”

“I came out to spend about three weeks in Cape Town before this Wolves series, and was training with a local club and doing a bit of gym work. There were some English county players also training down that way at the same time, so that was some gave me some great prep time in the lead up to the Namibia series.”

Just on the eve of the Wolves tour, Getkate received welcome news that he had been selected in the senior men’s squad for the Afghanistan T20 International series in India that starts in early March.

“I’m very happy to be back in the senior team for the Afghan tour. I’ve been working hard over the winter, and if I get an oportuniyt against the Afghans, who are a tough opponent, I’ll be giving it 100%.”

“It follows on from what was a very enjoyable 2019, a year of which I have very fond memories of. I can remember receiving my first cap in a T20 International against Oman from Stirlo [Paul Stirling], and then making my ODI debut against Zimbabwe a few months later. They are two days I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Playing for Ireland is something I always dreamt of as a kid, so to be able to play and wear the green shirt is a great honour.”

2019 was also a significant year for Getkate as he was also offered his first central contract:

“I was delighted with the news in receiving a full-time contract. Being centrally-contracted allows you train day-in, day-out with a group of top quality coaches around you. With a big year ahead for Irish cricket, it’s important we all keep pushing the standards throughout all squads, and continue to improve all aspects of our game.”

Meanwhile, Ireland Wolves Head Coach Pete Johnston gave an update assessment of his squad ahead of the 50-over series against Namibia:

“It was a really professional performance in the T20 series to come back from 1-0 down to win 4-1. It was a brilliant team effort, with guys sticking their hands up at different times. To see guys coming off the bench and putting in big performances, like Neil Rock did there at the end, was great to see. To see the confidence in the guys that they could come in and play with freedom and belief – and knowing we had a deep bench – was very satisfying.”

“Just on the fitness front, things are challenging here at the moment – during that last T20 we had to go out of our squad of 14 and bring in a young Academy player Mike Frost, who actually did very well. To get the win was very pleasing – particularly that big chase – but even more pleasing was that we achieved it despite being down to just the eleven players.”

“We’re really looking forward to the 50-over component of the tour, we’ve had a few new players join us which is great. We know Namibia won’t lie down – they’ll be looking for revenge. They’ll look to put us under pressure and it will be about how we adapt to 50-over cricket. Unfortunately, as alluded to there, we have a few health and injury challenges, but we will hopefully get everyone right and fit for Wednesday. But at the moment we have two guys down with gastro bugs, one with a chest infection, and unfortunately Neil Rock – who came into the tour carrying an injury that hasn’t improved – flies home today. We wish him all the best and a swift recovery.”

Ireland Wolves will play two 50-over matches against Namibia, followed by a 50-over match against the Northern Titans Invitation XI.

The Wolves tour

The Ireland Wolves is a second-tier international men’s team that was created in 2017 to bridge the gap between domestic first class and international cricket. The squad has played full-series’ against Bangladesh A (both home and away), toured Sri Lanka in 2019 and recorded two victories over visiting senior sides – Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – in 2019.

50-over Squad
Harry Tector (capt), James Cameron-Dow, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Shane Getkate, Tyrone Kane, Josh Little, James McCollum, Neil Rock, Jack Tector, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

The fixtures on the current tour are:

• 18 Feb 2020 – 1st T20 v Namibia; 2nd T20 v Namibia
• 21 Feb 2020 – 3rd T20 v Namibia
• 23 Feb 2020 – 4th T20 v Namibia; 5th T20 v Namibia
• 26 Feb 2020 – 1st 50 over match v Namibia
• 27 Feb 2020 – 2nd 50 over match v Namibia
• 29 Feb 2020 – 50 over match v Northern Titans Select XI

Matches will be played across two grounds at SuperSport Park in Gauteng and Irene Villagers Cricket Club Ground in Pretoria.
Ireland_v_Zimbabwe_M2_030.JPG
Craig Easdown
Shane Getkate bowling for Ireland on debut, 2019
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