UTRECHT, Netherlands – Left-arm pacers are an important asset in international cricket owing to the variation they can offer to any attack in line along with the angle of delivery that can often trouble the batters. When this combines with the skills to generate unexpected bounce at speed, it can be the perfect recipe to wreck even the world’s best batting order. Josh Little is keen to provide exactly that wicket-taking potential for his side this week.
Little made his international T20 debut in 2016 and then his ODI debut against England in 2019. He has represented Ireland 25 times across the two formats. The 21 year old rates his ODI debut against England as his finest performance. However, it refers to a different game against the same opponents as his favourite game for Ireland so far.
Speaking from the team hotel, Little in a press release by Cricket Ireland said: “My 4-45 on ODI debut is something I’ll never forget. But, beating England in that 3rd ODI in Southampton last year beats my ODI debut, I reckon. That was a special game.”
How is Little feeling ahead of the World Cup Super League series against the Netherlands?
“Considering I had a minor elbow injury on return from Bangladesh [where he played with the Ireland Wolves in early 2021], I’m relatively pleased with where my game is at. There’s always going to be things that need to be tweaked or worked on, but overall I feel in a good place going into the Dutch series.”
“The lack of club cricket definitely has reduced the number of overs bowled by all of our bowlers, but we try to make up for them at our training hub sessions as best we can.”
“These are sessions I often get to work with Stuart Barnes [Ireland’s Assistant Coach and National Bowling Lead] – I’ve absolutely loved working with Barnsey. I met him for the first time in Southampton and he’s been great for me and all the bowlers ever since – he pushes all of us hard, not only from a bowling point of view, but also from a fitness and nutrition point of view too. His experience around the world is definitely a huge asset for us bowlers to have available to us.”
“Of late, he has me working on my death bowling skills – it’s a key area I’m always looking to improve on and one I’ve always wanted to be the best at.”
And what is the mood like in the camp ahead of the series? “I think everyone’s excited to get back out playing international cricket against a very talented Dutch side. As disappointing as the Afghan series was from a team perspective, I think it really injected a big hunger to come to Utrecht and take away three wins, which we have the talent and experience to do.”
And is he enjoying international cricket life?
“International cricket is something I’m very privileged to have in my life. I’m absolutely loving every step of my journey, albeit it has been a very small one thus far. It’s exactly how I expected it to be – very unforgiving, high pressure, but very enjoyable!”
