To have the opportunity to play at Lord’s is great, says Gary Wilson
Gary Wilson has revealed that the opportunity to play a Test match at Lord’s is something that his generation of Irish cricketers did not expect to happen which is why they will cherish the opportunity. The newest Test entrants will take on World Champions England in a one-off Test on Wednesday.
Ireland’s Gary Wilson was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Ireland's first-ever Test match, against Pakistan. Since then, Ireland have participated in just one more Test game since their promotion to a full Membership status of the International Cricket Council two years ago which was a loss against Afghanistan.
However, none of those two games will compare to their next Test outing which will be against the three lions at Lord’s. Playing at Lord's has given many great players stage-fright in the past and Irish batsman Wilson urged his team-mates not to get intimidated by the occasion.
"In my generation, I don't think any of us expected to be playing a Test match at Lord's, so to have the opportunity is great. But we mustn't lose sight of the fact that we have to come here and perform as well. I mean that's what it is about, it's not just turning up and having all the fanfare around Lord's," Wilson said on Sunday after Ireland's opening training session at Lord's.
Wilson, who has played 105 ODIs and one Test match for Ireland, said that his side is confident of putting in a strong performance against the newly crowned World Champions when the two teams meet on Wednesday.
"We have to try and put in a good performance against a very good England side, but we've got some good players as well and we're confident we can do that. It might have an impact on the wicket in that it might dry it out as the game goes on. I guess we'd rather have good weather than poor rainy weather!" added Wilson.