Paul Stirling takes part in Ireland’s return to Test cricket – The Irish Times

Paul Stirling will not feature when Ireland end a near four-year break from Test cricket in Bangladesh next month. Stirling, who has played in all three Tests for Ireland since being granted full membership in 2017, will focus exclusively on white-ball cricket for the foreseeable future as Ireland bid to qualify for the ODI World Cup in India next October.

“It was a two-way conversation over more than one coffee,” said Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan when asked if Stirling’s omission was down to the player or the selectors. “It’s about the wellness piece and finding a balance between playing for Ireland and the commitments around him [franchise] leagues. We have an agreement that until that World Cup he will only play white ball cricket for us.

“It creates opportunities for the guys we want to see out there, hopefully they hit the ground running as well.”

In addition to the squads for the ODI, T20 and Test leg of the upcoming Bangladesh tour, another Test and a couple of ODIs away to Sri Lanka have been confirmed. These occur almost immediately after the trip to Bangladesh.

Overall, of the 15 players named in the two-Test squads, 10 have not played in the longest format of the Irish game. In the headlines is PJ Moor, the former Zimbabwe international who was overlooked for the limited-overs tour of the country of his birth last month. The Munster Reds skipper is one of two wicketkeepers named alongside Lorcan Tucker.

As expected, Josh Little will miss the Test matches due to Indian Premier League commitments. Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher and Graham Hume are the players named in each team.

Former Ireland U19 spinner Matthew Humphreys earns a maiden international call-up, as does Northern Knights seamer Matthew Foster, who will replace the rested Mark Adair in the Sri Lanka Test.

“First of all, he bowls left-arm, which is something we’ve been clamoring for from a skills perspective,” said Malan of Humphreys’ inclusion. “Another thing we took into account [was] when he played for Ireland in the Under-19 World Cup, he was that guy. He bowled at every stage, proved that he is a competitor and that he can take the runs. He has all the traits and qualities we are looking for.

“Test cricket is all about those experts and that’s what he brings to the party.”

Ben White and Andy McBrine are the other two frontline players named in Test squads, meaning there is no place left for 2021 ICC ODI Team of the Year member Simi Singh. Neither he nor Fionn Hand feature in any of the squads as both have played in the recent T20 World Cup. James McCollum, who last appeared in an international game in January 2021, has also been reinstated.

Andrew Balbirnie leads both Test matches, but steps down for Sri Lanka ODI. Paul Stirling returns to lead the side after the regular skipper is rested.

[ Ireland upset Australia in cricket World Cup warm-up ]

In the limited overs, Craig Young is welcome back from injury. The North West Warriors bowler will feature in the T20 in Bangladesh and ODI in Sri Lanka; he is not fit enough for the exams. Conor Olphert has also recovered from injury to enter the white ball competition.

David Delany has once again been overlooked and Malan offers an insight into why his international exile continues: “We had some really good talks at the end of the summer, we want to see that point of difference I don’t think.” I haven’t seen him at all this year. I think there was a period when Cricket Ireland offered him a contract [in October 2020] and he didn’t accept it, so there’s a bit of work to be done on both sides, on and off the field.

“First of all, from a cricketing point of view, I would like to see a bit more of that difference. I think people have talked about it before, but we haven’t necessarily seen it [it, Delany’s high pace] in the last 12-18 months.”

Malan also confirmed that May’s home matches against Bangladesh, part of the World Cup qualifying process, will be played in Chelmsford, Essex, and not at home.

The announcement of the five teams comes a little less than a month before Ireland’s trip to the subcontinent. While the return to Test cricket is exciting, with Ireland’s 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup coming up this summer, the white ball remains the barometer of success this year.

“Honestly, I love red-ball cricket,” explains Malan. “The context of this tour is built around the white ball side of things but also around the excitement of getting back into Test cricket. Hopefully we can play more red ball cricket at home at Wolves [Ireland A] The program will expose more players in our Test squad, so we will build that consistency over two or three years across three formats.”

Irish squads to tour Bangladesh

ODIs: Andrew Balbirnie (capt), 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 (capt), 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 (capt), 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.

Irish squads to tour Sri Lanka

Test: Andrew Balbirnie (capt), 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.

ODIs: 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.

Schedule

Bangladesh vs Ireland ODI Series: 18, 20 and 23 March, Sylhet

Bangladesh vs Ireland T20 Series: 27th, 29th and 31st March, Chattogram

Bangladesh vs Ireland, One-off Test: 4.-8. April, Dhaka

Sri Lanka vs Ireland, One-off Test: 18.-22. April, Galle

Sri Lanka vs Ireland ODI Series: 26 and 28 April, Colombo