Phil Simmons admits Ravi Rampaul wasn't anywhere near his first choice as overseas player but is confident he will make an impact for Ireland in the Friends Provident Trophy.

The one-day international seam bowler is poised to sign a contract to play in the remaining seven games, starting with a double-header at Leicestershire and Northamptonshire this Sunday and Monday. 'I've been trying to get a top fast bowler for a long time but they are all playing in the Indian Premier League,' admitted Ireland coach Simmons, who turned to his Trinidadian contacts book to identify 23-year-old Rampaul as a backup option.

A right-arm seamer with a skiddy style that suits European pitches, he was in Ireland with West Indies last summer for a quadrangular tournament, where he took 1-31 in six overs before the rains came against the hosts, 2-17 v Netherlands and 1-20 v Scotland.

All that came on the back of his stand-out performance in 30 ODIs for West Indies - a return of 4-41 in a big win over England at Edgbaston last July.

'I know Ravi from Trinidad and he can bowl - he wouldn't have the West Indies team if he couldn't,' said SImmons. 'He is a top player who had a couple of injuries last year and, when he came back, other guys had taken his place.

'He can field and he can bat - he opened the batting for West Indies at the Under-15 World Cup in England, but I am not expecting him to get runs because I would like to think the batsmen will do their job and prevent him from getting in.'