Ireland announces squads for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka tours

Ten of the fifteen players on the teams for the two Test matches have never represented Ireland in the game's longest format.

Image Credits: Cricket Ireland (Twitter)
By Kshitij Ojha | Feb 9, 2023 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Paul Stirling won’t play when Ireland returns to Test cricket after an almost four-year absence next month in Bangladesh. As Ireland looks to qualify for the ODI World Cup in India in October of next year, Stirling, who has participated in all three of Ireland’s Test matches since the full-member status was awarded in 2017, will devote all of his attention going forward to white ball cricket. A second Test and two away ODIs against Sri Lanka have also been announced, along with the teams for the ODI, T20, and Test portions of the impending visit to Bangladesh. These will happen relatively shortly following the trip to Bangladesh.

“It was a mutual discussion over more than one coffee,” said Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan when asked if Stirling’s omission was up to the player or the selectors. “It’s all about the well-being piece and finding the balance between playing for Ireland and the commitments he has around the [franchise] leagues. We’ve got to an agreement that up until that World Cup, he will only play white-ball cricket for us. That creates some opportunities for lads we want to see in there, hopefully, they hit the ground running as well.”

Read more: SA20: Squads and broadcasting details for the inaugural season

Ten New players in the Test squad

Ten of the fifteen players on the teams for the two Test matches have never represented Ireland in the game’s longest format. The most notable inclusion is that of PJ Moor, a former Zimbabwean international who was passed over for a limited overs tour of his own nation last month. Along with Lorcan Tucker, the wicketkeeper for the Munster Reds is one of two. Josh Little’s obligations to the Indian Premier League cause him to miss the Test matches, as planned. The players that will be included in each team are Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, and Graham Hume.

Simi Singh, who was a part of the 2021 ICC ODI team of the year, is once again left out of the test teams since Ben White and Andy McBrine are the other two front-line spinners picked. Since they both participated in the most recent T20 World Cup, neither he nor Fionn Hand will be included in any squad. James McCollum, who last played in a match for another country in January 2021, has also been recalled. Although he won’t play in the ODIs in Sri Lanka, Andrew Balbirnie will lead both Test matches. When the normal captain is resting, Paul Stirling takes over as team captain.

Ireland squads for tour of Bangladesh

ODI: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.

T20: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.

Test: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.

Ireland squads for tour of Sri Lanka

Test: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.

ODI: Paul Stirling (captain), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Conor Olphert, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.





Related Post

HIGHLIGHTS

Buzzwords