EXACTLY 850 years ago King Henry II of England signed a royal charter granting Bristolians the right to live in Dublin. The document is the oldest held in the Dublin city archives.

Henry didn’t know much about cricket — but then no-one did as it was yet to be invented — and the document doesn’t offer reciprocal rights for Dubs to live on the banks of the Avon.

But that hasn’t stopped Cricket Ireland moving its operation lock, stock and barrel to Gloucestershire’s County Ground this week, where it will host South Africa in their latest ‘home’ fixture.

A busy summer started with the appointment of head coach Heinrich Malan, who witnessed his charges lose to India by just four runs in a full—house T20 in Malahide, and two weeks later lose three times to New Zealand in a very competitive ODI series, the margins of defeat one wicket, three wickets and one run.

Around those fine performances were some abject T20 defeats however and Ireland flew in to Bristol yesterday with few expecting heroics against a very fine South Africa team. Their mood wouldn’t have been helped by losing the leader of their attack, Craig Young, who was forced to pull out on the eve of departure. His place was filled by 31-year-old Graham Hume, who played for South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup in 2010.

Bizarrely, Hume was called in on the back of a mediocre last round of the interpro T20s last week, when he took one wicket for 139 runs in 11 overs – conceding more than 12.6 runs an over.

But then the selectors had shown their disdain for the competition by announcing the squad for this tour the day before the last round began. Whatever hopes any bright sparks had of a call up were dashed. Can anyone blame Kevin O’Brien for heading off to play golf on day two, or Ross Adair taking off to Prague for the weekend after his first game?

The selectors' blushes may well have been spared by the Adair stag weekend, as the CIYMS man had scorched a century in 44 balls against North—West Warriors. Had he stayed around his later scores might have been irresistible.

And Hume might have been staying home, too, with the pacier David Delany due a recall. The Clontarf and Munster man took 4—87 at a tad over 10 an over, and his speed, and batting, certainly offer more on the county deck.

As it was, the three days in Pembroke saw Leinster overhaul Munster for the title with aggressive fifties by Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell – whose unbeaten 68 off 18 balls was the second highest strike rate for a fifty in history, a whopping 377.77, or nearly 23 runs per over.

While skipper Andrew Balbirnie has signalled that this is the squad Ireland will bring to the World Cup in Australia, Malan has scope to experiment within the squad, with Andy McBrine worth a run in the short format where he was overlooked for more than four years. His battling qualities are known but he brought a new shot—making dimension to his batting in the Kiwi ODIs.

The uncapped Fingallians Stephen Doheny and Fionn Hand have been diligent water—carriers all summer and deserve a debut at some stage this week or, more likely, next when Afghanistan play five T20s in Stormont.

Andrew White, Chair of National Men’s Selectors, said: “We believe, while the results have not gone our way, the brand of cricket that Heinrich Malan is instilling in the squad is showing positive signs and the players are beginning to equip themselves well as they build towards the World Cup.”

The task this week is enormous, taking on a buoyant South Africa side that beat England at Southampton yesterday to win the series 2—1. They boast a stellar top six, most of whom made runs against England with Reeza Hendricks scoring 57, 53 and 70, and a terrifying left—arm wrist spinner in Tabraiz Shamsi.

SQUAD: A Balbirnie (capt), M Adair, C Campher, G Delany, G Dockrell, S Doheny, F Hand, G Hume, J Little, A McBrine, B McCarthy, P Stirling, H Tector, L Tucker.

FIXTURES: Ireland v South Africa, Wed 3 and Fri 5 August, Bristol; Ireland v Afghanistan, Tue 9, Thurs 11, Fri 12, Mon 15 and Wed 17 August, Belfast.