Ireland Cricket - (Source: Ireland Cricket)
Cricket Ireland has named a strong 14-member Ireland squad for the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand. The impending fixture marks a historic occasion for the Irish team, considering it will be the first-ever Test faceoff between the two sides.
Senior batter Andrew Balbirnie will continue to lead the national side, and he will be accompanied by fellow star performers like Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher among others.
The match will also mark Ireland’s return to the Test lore after a gap of over six months. The last time Ireland graced the format was way back in November last year during their two-match away trip in Bangladesh.
Injury-struck Ireland name four potential debutants
Cricket Ireland has named a 14-player squad for the impending one-off Test match against New Zealand later this month. It is worth noting that several key members have been excluded from the line-up owing to injury concerns.
Some of the notable names missing from Ireland squad are Paul Stirling, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Gavin Hoey and Jordan Neill.
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Marred by injuries, the Ireland selection committee picked as many as four potential debutants in the squad, namely Jake Egan, Tom Mayes, Liam McCarthy and Reuben Wilson. While fast bowlers Mayes and McCarthy have previously played white-ball internationals for Ireland, right-handed batter Jake Egan and teenage medium pacer Wilson are yet to make their respective international debuts.
Andrew Balbirnie returns as captain
Despite missing Paul Stirling and Josh Little among others, the current Ireland squad still possess several star performers like Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker.
Captain Andrew Balbirnie will also be returning in his usual role, after leading the side in Bangladesh late last year. Here is a look at the entire Ireland squad for the upcoming Test match against New Zealand.
Ireland squad for one-off Test vs New Zealand:
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Reuben Wilson and Craig Young.
Tom Latham to lead New Zealand
Earlier this month, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) also named a 19-member squad for the one-off away Test against Ireland. However, for New Zealand, a majority of the squad members will also travel to England shortly after the Ireland Test to play a fresh three-match series in June.
Tom Latham will be leading the ‘Black Caps’, and the team also features legendary batter Kane Williamson, lanky paceman Kyle Jamieson, star all-rounders Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra among others. Here is a look at the entire New Zealand squad for the upcoming tour.
New Zealand squad for Ireland Test:
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Kristian Clarke, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson and Will Young.
Ireland vs New Zealand schedule
For Ireland, the one-off Test will serve as their return to the game’s purest format after a gap of over six months. For a determined New Zealand unit, the match is set to serve as a testing ground for the English challenge next month.
The match will be a four-day affair, set to be played between May 27 and May 30 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast.
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