André Botha has been ruled out of next weekend’s Friends Provident double header away to Leicestershire and Northamptonshire - and probably the rest of the competition as well.

Ireland’s leading all-rounder was unable to bowl in Sunday’s opening game of the season, the 56 runs defeat to Nottinghamshire at Castle Avenue, and when he batted he was unable to take quick singles. He is awaiting the result of blood tests from a specialist to diagnose the recurring elbow problem and, now, an ankle injury.

Botha played through the pain barrier at last year’s World Cup finals, but missed the games against New Zealand and Australia to ensure he was fit to bowl in the Super Eight clash with Bangladesh, which Ireland won to earn elevation to the ICC ODI world rankings table, in 10th place.

He then dislocated a finger against Somerset in Ireland’s second game in last year’s FP Trophy campaign and he missed the next seven matches. With Jeremy Bray and Trent Johnston no longer involved in the one-day arena, Botha, at 32, is now the oldest member of the squad.

His batting is likely to be missed more than his bowling in the remaining seven games against the counties because his replacement in the squad is West Indian opening bowler Ravi Rampaul, who will make his Ireland debut on Sunday at Grace Road as their overseas professional.

For National Coach Phil Simmons, it was a case of going to his native Trinidad for the outside help allowed for all teams in the one-day county competition. With all the big names bought by the Indian Premier League, which continues for the duration of the FP Trophy, there wasn’t much left and available but it must be hoped that his choice is rather better than last year when South African Nantie Hayward and Kiwi Jesse Ryder were such a disappointment.

Rampaul’s first appearance in Ireland, as a 19 year old in 2004, ended with figures of 7-1-74-1 as Ireland, memorably, chased down the West Indies total of 292. When he returned here last summer, for the quadrangular tournament against Scotland, the Netherlands and Ireland, he had series figures of four for 68 including the wicket of Niall O’Brien in the ODI at Clontarf, but he conceded 31 runs in his six overs, which is just about his economy rate after 30 ODIs.

He has batted only nine times but on four occasions has been dismissed for two or less.

Rampaul for Botha is the only change in the 13-man squad that flies to England on Saturday morning which leaves Waringstown three players down for their holiday Premier League double-header against Lisburn and Civil Service North.

Ireland’s most capped player, Kyle McCallan, is again joined by Waringstown team-mates Gary Kidd and James Hall although the latter two did not make the starting line-up on Sunday and will be favourites to carry the drinks again next weekend with Simmons expected to name an unchanged side.

Ireland squad: W Porterfield (Gloucestershire), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Fourie (Railway Union), J Hall, G Kidd, K McCallan (all Waringstown), K O’Brien (Railway Union), R Rampaul (West Indies), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).