According to a Press release by Ireland Cricket, the Ireland Wolves are all set to leave for its Bangladesh tour and their leg-spinner Ben White is looking upon his selection as validation for all the hard work over the recent years.
The scheduled tour will commence from 17 February to 19 March 2021 and will have Wolves playing an eight-match various format series against Bangladesh A.
Speaking from home, the 22-year old said: “I was over the moon to get the call from the Chair of Selectors and am very grateful to be given the opportunity to represent my country again after being fortunate enough to play Under-19s a few years ago.”
“I feel like I had a pretty good season in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. We were obviously very lucky to be able to get out and play any cricket at all under the circumstances, but I feel the hard work put in before and throughout the season really paid off, and it’s really nice to be back enjoying the game again.”
White said, “I’ve played cricket ever since I can remember – it started when my Dad insisted on bringing me down to the Phoenix Park to try it out, as he would’ve played it a lot when he was younger back in New Zealand and I really just took too it like a fish to water. I’ve played my whole career in Phoenix CC, who have been so great in my development and I can’t thank them enough!”
“Growing up I played every sport under the sun – cricket, rugby, football, GAA, hurling to name a few. But cricket was my number one focus.”
“I used to bowl seam, as everyone seems to when they start out – and I actually opened the bowling for Leinster Under-11s way back under the great guidance of Brían O’Rourke, but I stopped at Under-13s when Mike Halliday saw me messing around in the nets bowling leggings in a game of stumpy and demanded I give up the seam and start bowling them from then on. So I guess I have Mike Halliday to thank for spotting them and Matt Lunson for working on them with me.”
Sharing his experience in playing cricket in the subcontinent, he said, “I’ve been to Bangladesh before – in 2016 for the U19 World Cup, and have also been fortunate enough to go to Sri Lanka (2014) and Malaysia (2015).”
“I’m expecting it to be very hot and humid, and hopefully it should be very spin friendly. I feel I’m bowling quite well at the moment and feel pretty confident in my ability, so I’m just really looking forward to getting over there to play some hard cricket as is possible under the current circumstances of COVID. We are so lucky to get the chance to go to a country like Bangladesh and something we love, so I’m just relishing the opportunity.”
Talking about living in a bio-bubble for a month and his plans to spend his time, he said “I’ll be bringing a book or two with me, as well as the Xbox to keep myself occupied. I’m just really
looking forward to being able to learn from the likes of Graham Ford and Stuart Barnes as it’s such a great opportunity for myself to better myself as a cricketer.”