DUBAI // Dougie Brown may only have had one official engagement as UAE coach so far, but he has already diagnosed a failing that has long plagued the national team.
The UAE lost by 85 runs to Ireland in the first one-day international on Thursday, after failing to recover from losing five middle-order wickets for 19 runs.
Collapses like that have been typical of the recent history of the national team, and Brown says the team need to find an answer.
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“As batsmen, we need to make sure we take more responsibility,” Brown said. “That has been a common trend over the past 18 months.
“We have got ability. The guys have worked exceptionally well in practice, but it is about turning practice into game situations, under pressure.”
They will get the chance to right those wrongs when they play Ireland in the final match of the brief series at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday.
“It is the next part of the puzzle,” Brown said. “The guys have skills, but actually carrying out these skills as and when you are required to is something different.
“The great thing about cricket is you get the chance to come back a couple of days later and put things right you didn’t get right on the day.”
These two ODIs were organised at short notice to help prepare the sides for coming engagements in the Intercontinental Cup and the World Cricket League.
Ireland face Afghanistan in India, while the UAE will try to find a way off the bottom of the table in both competitions when they play Papua New Guinea in Abu Dhabi next month.
“Having these two ODIs is great news for ourselves and it is good to be 1-0 up,” said William Porterfield, the Ireland captain who scored 100 in the opening game.
FIXTURES
Saturday
UAE v Ireland, 10am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
April 2
UAE v PNG, World Cricket League, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
April 4
UAE v PNG, World Cricket League, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
April 7-10
UAE v PNG, Intercontinental Cup, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
RESULT
Saturday — Ireland beat UAE by 85 runs
pradley@thenational.ae
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