Bad weather ensured England's young guns were given only a small taste of international cricket - but the rain did not dampen the optimism of one of the five debutants, Zafar Ansari.
Only 18 overs of yesterday's one-off Royal London one-day international with Ireland at Malahide were possible, although that was enough time for Mark Wood and David Willey to claim their first wickets for England.
James Vince and Jason Roy took slip catches to get their names on the scorecard, but the elements prevented left-arm spinner Ansari from making a telling contribution.
Nevertheless, the Surrey all-rounder loved every minute of his first experience of international cricket.
"It was a real pleasure to be involved and just to say I've walked out and played a game for England, or played a few overs for England,"Ansaritold ecb.co.uk.
"I'm just happy to have been in the team so my emotions aren't too mixed.
"It's obviously disappointing for everyone who turned up but from a personal point of view I'm more happy that I was in the XI."
The 23-year-old spent three weeks in Sri Lanka over the winter with the England Performance Programme, a trip which allowed him to get a closer look at the likes of Roy and Vince.
And Ansari has seen enough from the latest crop of youngsters to suggest English cricket is in good hands.
"I feel a bit out of place really, the amount of talent there is," he joked.
"It's a group of skilful players. Whether or not they can make the step up is another question; people have to prove themselves at international level before too much can be said.
"On paper and based on county performances, it looks like there's a group of guys here who can go on and do well.
"The more genuine all-rounders you have, especially in one-day cricket, the better your side can often be.
"David Willey was down to come in at nine and he opens the batting in Twenty20 cricket for Northants so it showed the length of our order.
"People offer different skills, and that's a good thing."