Rain continues to follow the Ireland team wherever they go with their second practice game in Sydney falling victim to the weather.

It denied them the chance of an instant follow-up to their opening game victory on Tuesday but they will have one more chance before the “official” action begins next week ahead of the T20 World Cup, when they play a New South Wales XI.

The main decision will be whether to give Paul Stirling and Hector Tector a first game of the tour, after their late arrival from the Caribbean Premier League or wait until the first warm-up game against Namibia in Melbourne on Tuesday.

West Indies, meanwhile, the favourites to top Ireland’s group in first round of the World Cup, lost a thriller to Australia in the first of two matches in Queensland.

The Windies dropped two catches in the last over as Australia reached 146 for seven with a ball to spare.

Missing from the West Indies squad is leading middle order batsman Shimron Hetmyer who missed two flights to Australia and coach Phil Simmons, always a stickler for timing in his eight-years as Ireland coach, with the unanimous backing of the selection panel, dropped him from the World Cup party.

He has been replaced in the squad by Shamarh Brooks who will fly direct to Melbourne for their opening warm-up match against the UAE on Monday.