It's time for Ireland's cricketers to show us what they are made of.

After losing to Afghanistan by 13 runs in the Twenty20 WCQ opening match this morning it is a time to keep cool heads.

If Ireland win their next two matches, against Scotland and USA, something that they are well capable of, they will, more than likely, be in the Super Fours. It is still all to fight for.

However, I suspect they will only get out of their current slump if they are prepared to grasp some nettles:

• Andre Botha and Kevin O'Brien can't make a score for love nor money these days - yet they are coming in at 4 and 5 in the order?
• The players who are in a bit of form such as Cusack, Johnston and Mooney are coming in at 6, 8 and 9 respectively?
• Mooney (I fervently hope) is playing as a specialist batsman and is coming in at 9?
• Is Andrew White a better bet than Kevin O'Brien at the moment? Hard to judge from this distance but I would have thought so.
• If he isn't, why not drop Kevin down the order or alternatively ask him to open and tell him to go for his shots?

Try something different.

Win or lose in the next two games, after this tour Ireland needs more focussed and ruthless management. Some of the squad / team selections and bowling options taken have been cul de sacs we should have learnt from more quickly.

It's time to get back to winning cricket.  Albert van der Merwe needs to come in to the reckoning for Ireland selection as do folks seemingly left out in the cold, such as Greg Thompson of Lisburn. Once the team gets back to these shores there is no time to waste.

But for now it is time for Ireland to tweak one or two things, keep cool heads and show us their mettle.

For scorecard, click here

                                                                                             
                                                                     Liam Rooney