NEWS
Follow UsIreland have named their T20I and ODI squads for the forthcoming white-ball series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi, opting to leave out the well-experienced Andrew Balbirnie from the T20I squad.
Balbirnie, who's captained Ireland in 52 T20Is and is the third-most capped Irish player in the shortest format, featured at the top of the order in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the United States & the Caribbean but had a torrid time, averaging 7.33.
But with a new cycle starting, Ireland have opted to change things up in the shortest format, instead choosing to give opportunities to the more inexperienced batters.
Ross Adair, elder brother of fast bowler Mark Adair, who was in the T20WC squad and even made one appearance in the mega event, is expected to open the batting in Balbirnie’s absence.
“One area we will explore on this tour is the top order in our T20 squad. We’ll be looking at introducing a new dynamic, with Andrew Balbirnie sitting out the T20Is on this occasion,” national selector Andrew White said.
“There are only two T20Is in the upcoming series, but they will offer important opportunities as we try to increase our levels of performance again.”
But despite missing out on the T20Is, Balbirnie has continued to find a place in the ODI squad.
“Andrew remains very much central to our thoughts and will open the batting in the ODIs,” White added.
One individual who did not find a place in the T20WC squad but finds himself in the squad for the South Africa T20Is is young left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys. Humphreys has had a solid showing in the Ireland Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Trophy 2024, taking 8 wickets at an economy of 7.83. The 21-year-old has also been named in the ODI squad.
Wicketkeeper Neil Rock, who, like Ross Adair, made a solitary appearance in the T20WC 2024, also retains his place in the squad. He, too, has been picked in the ODIs.
Spinners Gavin Hoey and Andy McBrine are part of the ODI squad but not the T20Is.
“The Ireland Emerging and Wolves tours over the last 18 months have been invaluable to the players but also in terms of our succession planning,” White further said.
“We need to deepen our pool of international cricketers and for the likes of Gavin Hoey, he will come into the international arena with greater confidence following his involvement in such fixtures and this is hugely important. The volume of international fixtures leading into 2027 is exciting and there will be opportunities for players to make their mark.”
Ireland will play two T20Is and three ODIs against South Africa, with the series starting off with the T20Is. The entirety of the tour will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
SQUADS
Ireland Men’s ODI squad
Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young
Ireland Men’s T20I squad
Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Matthew Humphreys, Graham Hume, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Fixtures
27 September 2024: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (1st T20I; Abu Dhabi; start 4.30pm)
29 September 2024: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (2nd T20I; Abu Dhabi; start 4.30pm)
2 October 2024: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (1st ODI; Abu Dhabi; start 12.30pm)
4 October 2024: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (2nd ODI; Abu Dhabi; start 12.30pm)
7 October 2024: Ireland Men v South Africa Men (3rd ODI; Abu Dhabi; start 12.30pm)
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