Ten days before Ireland play their first match at the World Cup finals, they get their first taste of action Down Under tomorrow when they face leading Sydney Grade side Randwick Petersham.

A full squad is available for National Coach Phil Simmons to choose from and the opposition are expected to include at least one Australia Test star in Simon Katich.

The World Cup is Roy Torrens' last tournament after 10 years as Ireland team manager and Cricket Ireland has named the 66-year-old's successor. He is Chris Siddell, 29, the current CI Digital Media Editor, who has been playing for Malahide for the last two seasons and is also their Cricket Development Manager.

He previously worked for Durham County Cricket club, assisting the Operations Manager and doing some coaching.

Meanwhile, Ireland's busy summer of cricket has cost wicket-keeper/batsman Gary Wilson the captaincy of Surrey.

Wilson was appointed last year as replacement for Graeme Smith who had to leave early and although he failed to lead the county to promotion, he enjoyed a stellar season with the bat and was recognised as an excellent captain. But because he will have Ireland commitments for more than a month of the county season, Surrey have appointed Gareth Batty as their 2015 captain.

As well as ODIs against England and Australia, Ireland are co-hosting the World Twenty20 Qualifiers which last for three weeks in July and there is also likely to be a four-day Intercontinental Cup game in June for which Ireland can now demand mandatory release as the winners of the competition will face the lowest ranked Test nation in 2018 in a four-match series with a place on the Test match rankings up for grabs.