Less than two weeks after Ireland captain Trent Johnston announced he was quitting the one-day international scene, the Irish team have been rocked by the news that opening bowler Dave Langford-Smith has followed him into retirement - from all international cricket.

Langford-Smith, 31, was one of the few bowling successes on the recent Bangladesh tour, taking seven wickets in the three ODIs, including three in each of, what will now be, his last two Ireland games.

Citing work and family commitments for his decision to call it a day after 43 international appearances, the bowler everyone knows as ‘Lanky’ has struggled for the last year to juggle his cricket and personal life.

The decision of fellow Australians Johnston and Jeremy Bray, who has not played for Ireland since last May and is not expected to return to the Ireland set-up, undoubtedly influenced his decision and the three weeks away last month - a decision taken at only two-weeks notice after he had originally declared himself unavailable - made up his mind that he could not meet the increasing demands of international cricket.

In a farewell email, announcing his retirement Langford-Smith said: “On returning from the latest tour, I have realised that my work load has built up so much that I will find it hard to do anything else. I knew that by making myself available for the UAE/Bangladesh tour, this would be the case.

“Playing for the Irish team has been the greatest sporting experience I could have ever wished for, and I am proud to have been a part of such a successful team both on and off the field.”

In the end, it was an international career that lasted less than two years, but it coincided with the busiest schedule any Irish player has undertaken. His highlight, of course, was playing in all nine of Ireland’s World Cup matches with his innings of 17 not out against South Africa in Guyana - a year ago yesterday - giving him as much pleasure as any of the 65 wickets he took in his international career, at an average of just over 27.

Twice he took five wickets in an innings, both in Inter-Continental Cup games and he is sure to be badly missed in that form of the game, although fortunately for Ireland, as they defend the trophy for the second successive time, Johnston has said he will be available for the four-day games.

Langford-Smith, however, was, until yesterday, a certainty for Ireland’s first game of the summer, against Nottinghamshire at Castle Avenue on April 27, but now Ireland will have to throw in a rookie opening bowler to face the counties - or quickly find an overseas professional to fill the role.

Apparently, National Coach Phil Simmons is still undecided.

The retirement continues the speedy break-up of the World Cup squad which, this time last year, had still four games to play in the Caribbean. Indeed, with only William Porterfield of the county professionals expected to be available, Ireland are set to field only five of that 15-man squad in this season's one-day games.