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Porterfield is Ireland's leading ODI run-scorer Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Cricket

Ireland captain Porterfield returns home from pre-World Cup tour

The opening batsman left the camp due to personal reasons.

IRELAND’S WORLD CUP preparations have been dealt another setback with the news that captain William Porterfield has returned home from the acclimatisation tour of Australia/New Zealand due to personal reasons.

The 30-year-old missed Thursday’s defeat to the Northern Districts in Hamilton and has since returned home. Cricket Ireland have confirmed they will not call-up a replacement with only three games remaining on the tour.

Porterfield assumed the reins from the now retired Trent Johnston in 2008 and has been central to Ireland’s Associate nation dominance over the past few years. He is currently Ireland’s leading One-Day International run scorer with 2,122 runs and has enjoyed a prolific season with the bat for Warwickshire.

It represents another hindrance to Ireland’s groundwork for their third consecutive appearance at a World Cup. Already Phil Simmons has been forced to contend without Paul Stirling and fast-bowlers Tim Murtagh and Max Sorensen, all of whom didn’t travel due to injury.

The squad has been stretched further with Andrew White also returning home with a broken finger and an illness sidelining both Stuart Thompson and Surrey captain Gary Wilson.

Kevin O’Brien is expected to lead the side in Porterfield’s absence for Saturday’s fixture against a New Zealand XI.

Ireland begin their World Cup campaign against West Indies in Nelson on 16 February.

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