Marshall and Joyce called up for Ireland’s tour of India

Hamish Marshall and Ed Joyce moved a step closer to resuming their international careers with Ireland after they were named in the national squad for the upcoming tour of India.

The pair were included in a 17-man-squad which will tour the country in preparation for the 2011 ICC World Cup in the Sub-Continent.

Neither player is eligible for the international team until April but the Irish board has requested they be given permission to play in the tournament, which starts in February.

Marshall’s inclusion, though on the cards, is the more eye-raising.

The 31-year-old batsman played 13 Tests and 66 One Day Internationals for New Zealand before retiring to join Gloucestershire as a domestic player in 2007.

His last game was in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and he announced his desire to use an Irish passport to resume his international career this year.

The right-hander had a moderately successful international career for the Black Caps and someone with his experience will be of undoubted benefit to the Irish.

Joyce, 32, is a Dubliner who defected in 2006 to play for England, representing them in the same World Cup.

He was a favourite of ex-England coach Duncan Fletcher but was discarded following the tournament after struggling to impress on a consistent basis.

The left hander expressed his wish to return to the team he left behind in 2005 earlier this summer.

His county record with Middlesex and latterly Sussex makes him arguably the strongest batsman available to the Irish side.

Ireland, led by Warwickshire’s new signing Will Porterfield, do not play any international fixtures on their three week trip but have four matches organised.