ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 30, 2022

Gareth Delany

The Gabba

Ireland

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. Gareth, I guess I'll start with the obvious question: How much confidence does that result against England give you going into a game against Australia?

GARETH DELANY: Yeah, obviously it gives us massive confidence heading into another big game. I think we know if we play pretty much near our best that we're going to be able to compete with anybody here, so that's obviously helpful that last game we played and we came out on top.

Q. There's been a little bit in the surfaces throughout this World Cup. You guys made good use of it in those opening overs of England's run chase. Do you think that brings you guys into the game a bit more if these are perhaps on a slightly lower-scoring-side matches, and do you expect some help from the Gabba pitch?

GARETH DELANY: Yeah, I thought the guys bowled brilliantly up top in Melbourne. There was obviously a bit of something in it there, a bit of swing and a bit of movement, and I suppose that's probably what we're used to back home, so the guys exploited that very well.

Q. Australia tend to be a side that want to come very hard. They've packed their batting lineup with big hitters. They've left out someone like Steven Smith. Do you think your bowlers -- is that something that you think will keep your bowlers in the game? Are you quite excited about that challenge of taking on a batting lineup that looks like they're going to come hard, particularly net run rate scenario in this group?

GARETH DELANY: Yeah, they've obviously definitely packed with a lot of good and a lot of powerful players. But as we kind of saw the other day, if they're not at their aces and we are, they're going to give us chances. I think that'll be the same thing that apply to Australia.

Q. Are you adjusted to the heat of Brisbane? Quite different conditions --

GARETH DELANY: Yeah, it's quite a change.

Q. Your 55th T20 international tomorrow already just three years after your debut. Now you're the No. 1 spin bowler. Have you adjusted to the international setup and being the No. 1 bowler?

GARETH DELANY: Yes, but still trying to get used to that role. Trying to learn every game. Yes, it's definitely a little change since when I made my debut.

Q. It'll be your first game against Australia, of course. Are you excited about that, daunted by it, or do you think it'll inspire you?

GARETH DELANY: Yeah, it's definitely an exciting opportunity to play Australia, especially in Australia, as well. I suppose a massive game for them, as well. Anticipating probably a pretty big crowd that I'm probably not used to having back home, so it's an exciting opportunity.

Q. Have you been told what to expect from Brisbane in the warmup games? There certainly wasn't many wickets for the spinners. The chase men seemed to be getting all the glory. What are you expecting at the Gabba?

GARETH DELANY: Yeah, to be honest, I'm not really too sure what to expect. Obviously history would say that spin bowling goes pretty well, but if seamers have gone well with their change ups there, then we'll adjust to that.

Q. Will you be following the women's tour closer than most, obviously, with Laura and the girls having arrived in Pakistan now?

GARETH DELANY: Yeah, definitely. I'm trying to follow along. I think they arrived early this morning. I think they have a few days before their first game, so I'll definitely be following along.

Q. How do you expect them to do? Are they up for it? Do they expect to win?

GARETH DELANY: They ran Pakistan pretty close this summer, so hopefully they'll be able to give them a few good games.

Q. Just to follow up on the spin bowling, Adam Zampa has had a lot of success over here in Australia. Have you looked at what he's done to be successful and how he goes about his work out here?

GARETH DELANY: I have at times, yeah. He's obviously an extremely skilled bowler. He knows what he's able to do. He has great variations and mix-up. Yeah, change-ups, that's his advantage. Obviously the boundaries here are pretty big, so you get that little bit more leeway as a spinner in that batters won't take you on; they pretty much need to middle it to get boundaries or sixes, so you're always in the game, I think.

Q. The Ireland top order played very well to settle that game against a strong England attack. They had Mark Wood bowling at 150Ks at times, as well. Australia have got three guys that can sort of touch that. Have you spoken about a game plan and sort of how you'll go about tackling the sort of Starc-Hazlewood-Cummins trio that you're likely to face?

GARETH DELANY: Probably a similar approach that we took against England; we're not coming into any of these games fearing anybody. Obviously it's probably one of the best attacks in world cricket at the moment, so it will be a tough challenge, but I think the guys have shown throughout this tournament that we can mix it with the best. Definitely have confidence in the guys to take it on.

Q. Irish team is also coming from a wash-off match and Australia is coming from a wash-off match. How important is mindset going to be for this game tomorrow?

GARETH DELANY: It's obviously a swing game for both sides. Both teams will be coming pretty live, and obviously Australia are the favourites, so the pressure is pretty much off us really. Just going to try and go out there and put in a good performance, and if we do, we'll hopefully be there or thereabouts results-wise.