Molins, who was controversially dropped after the 2005 ICC Trophy, and later left out of the World Cup squad, has been vocal in recent weeks about his continued omission.

"I don't think its politics, " said Johnston, "but I'm not a selector and don't know what their thinking is. It probably doesn't help that Jason's playing over in London. It's easier for the guys here. He says he's averaging 40 but then the players who have replaced him like Dom Joyce are averaging even more.

"Adi Birrell always drummed home to us about multi-dimensional cricketers and Phil Simmons is the same. That's why Will Porterfield is at the top of the order. He might have struggled for runs this summer but his fielding keeps him in.

"The competition for openers is fierce . . . Eoin Morgan has moved up for Ireland and Middlesex and has done well. If Jeremy Bray comes back we'll have strength in depth. And young guys like Chris Dougherty and Paul Stirling have scored centuries for the U19s and U23s."

Simmons sought out Johnston's opinion on his predecessor as captain and was told he was a quality player. Molins has been playing with Brondesbury who lie second in the Middlesex league. He has scored 275 runs in nine innings, average 34.5, with three fifties.

Molins captained Ireland to famous wins over West Indies and Zimbabwe and formed a prolific opening partnership with Bray. He won 76 caps and scored over 2,000 runs for Ireland, including centuries against England Amateurs and Zimbabwe.

One of Ireland's World Cup heroes is set to make a return in the near future. Kate Stalker, senior physiotherapist with Derbyshire CCC, says Boyd Rankin is "much improved after his stress fracture and we should see him back shortly. He is currently just working on his bowling fitness."

The Bready giant was injured shortly after the start of the season and missed the chance to capitalise on his widely-praised performances in the Caribbean. He played just two championship matches, taking ten wickets.

Rankin was amember of the side that played in the Under 19s World Cup in Bangladesh in 2004. The current crop of players last week won a place in the 2008 event, to be held in Malaysia, with wins over Scotland, Holland and Denmark. Another Bready youth, Chris Dougherty, made 141 against the Danes but Merrion's Ben Ackland was also in the runs, making an unbeaten 48 against Holland and 71, again unbeaten, in the decider against the Scots.

It has been a fairytale season for Ackland, who has spent the summer with Northants . Speaking from the airport yesterday on his way to a game for the academy side, Ackland was thrilled with the team's performance and was looking forward to the finals.

Although born in England, Ackland (left) moved here aged four and learned his cricket at Aravon School and Merrion. He played for Ireland all the way up and hopes to earn a full cap too. "Irish cricket has been really brilliant to me. I'd love to play for Ireland, " he said.

Ackland's cross-channel commitments have meant he has yet to play for Merrion in 2007 and really misses the club's revival under Dom Joyce which seen them reach two finals. Merrion's loss has been Northants' gain however, and Ackland has done very well, most notably making 142 against Yorkshire for the county's Under 17 side.

Now at school in Taunton, Ackland has played for Somerset's 2nd XI too, and hopes to make a career in the game.

"I started playing for Merrion's adult sides just as Ed Joyce was leaving, but I had a chance to talk about life as a professional when I had a net at Lord's recently."

Leading cricket photographer Billy McLeod died suddenly in hospital last week as a result of a blood clot. Billy worked primarily for the Derry Journal, but his work was widely seen in many newspapers and publications.

North West chairman Joe Doherty paid tribute to Billy saying, "The sudden death of Billy McLeod is a devastating loss for North West cricket. His was a familiar face at every cricket ground in the region and he was a great friend to us all. I will personally miss him, as he was instrumental in raising the profile of the game to new heights with his outstanding action photographs week after week.

"He was always a pleasure to meet around the boundary, and he could always be relied upon for good conversation and a perceptive 'take' on the days proceedings, aided by a photographer's keen observation of the conditions and the body language of the players." As a mark of respect a minute's silence was held at all North West games yesterday.