If new head coach Gary Wilson was under any illusion as to how tough it will be for Ireland to qualify for next year’s one-day international World Cup a 4-0 drubbing by Afghanistan over the past 10 days will have brought the size of the task into sharp focus.

When Afghan captain Rahmat Shah struck the boundary that took his side past Ireland’s 298-7 with six wickets and 11 balls to spare in Belfast on Saturday the rout was complete, and there were very few positives for the home side to cling to.

Indeed, skipper Paul Stirling admitted: “They’re just a better side than us.”

Rustiness, having not played an ODI for 15 months, can be blamed for some of the poor performances but only Curtis Campher and rookie Byron McDonough came away from the series with their reputations enhanced.

Campher excelled with the bat in the final two games, blasting 84 and 96 from 84 balls on Saturday before he was last out at the start of the final over, while McDonough justified his surprise call up with lively bursts of pace as he started to find his feet at the new level.

Leg-spinner Gavin Hoey had one good game, taking 4-34 on a helpful pitch last Monday, but proved expensive in his other starts, and Wilson has a big call to make between the Pembroke man and reliable off-spinner Andy McBrine.

Yes, Hoey offers more of a wicket-taking option in the middle overs, but on the slower pitches of southern Africa where the final qualifiers will be held in February and March, the vastly experienced McBrine might be a safer bet.