CYCLONE Marcia swept into Brisbane over the weekend, wiping out the Australia v Bangladesh fixture. But that might not be the end of the weather woes for the cricket World Cup.

According to a Queensland official “There's no end in sight” to the rain and flooding that has hit the state in Australia's north east - which could damage Ireland's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

Phil Simmons's team play the UAE here on Wednesday in a game they are expected to win. Sharing the points in the event of a call-off would be a serious blow.

While the squad relaxed and continued their training in top-class indoor conditions, one member was catching up on friends and family.

Brisbane is where Alex Cusack was born and lived until a chance visit to Ireland ten years ago. His rugby-playing brother Jay played on the wing for Old Crescent and helped fix him up with Clontarf.

He settled in Dublin and was an instant success when he was called up for his Irish debut in 2007, taking 3-15 against South Africa on his second cap.

He has been a strong performer ever since and despite being blighted with injury, Simmons bent over backwards to ensure he was in his squad.

He missed almost all last summer but by the time the winter tours began he was on his way back.

"I was back running and almost at full fitness back then and once I started bowling out in Australia, it all came back," he told the Irish Daily Star.

“I suppose there's always a fear that you don't make the squad or whatever, but mean once you're injured it's taken out of your hands a bit, you just have to do your best to get back to fitness and put all the hard work in and hope for the best.”

Now 34, Cusack's body bears the evidence of his 159 Irish caps.

“I've got wear and tear on the cartilage of both my hips so that sort of came down into the groin muscles and I had a lot of problems with the groins.

“I'm as good as I can be, but it's always going to be there. But you know, tell me one cricketer who doesn't have a niggle.”

Cusack's Clonmel-born father will be at the Gabba on Wednesday and hopes his son can force his way back into the starting XI.

“My dad lives out here and all his brothers and sisters have booked up for the game. It's good to get back and see them all.”