The England team is set to tour Ireland, where they will play a three-match T20 series. Ireland has announced its squad for this series. This time, experienced players like Mark Adair and Josh Little are not included in the team.
Sports News: The Ireland cricket team has been announced for the three-match T20 series between Ireland and England to be played in September. This series will begin on September 17, and Ireland will host England in a T20 series at home for the first time. Two major and experienced players, Mark Adair and Josh Little, will be absent, while young player Ben Calitz has earned his maiden international T20 call-up.
Team to be Affected by the Absence of Two Key Players
The absence of Mark Adair and Josh Little could pose a challenge for Ireland. Adair and Little are experienced pace bowlers for the team, having contributed to many victories in significant matches. However, the team management has expressed confidence that the inclusion of new-generation players will strengthen the squad.
In this regard, Ben Calitz has been included in the team for the first time, providing an opportunity for young talent. Led by Captain Paul Stirling, the team appears balanced, and the young players are expected to elevate the team's performance to new heights.
Every Match Against England is a Major Opportunity
After the team selection, Ireland's Men's National Selector, Andrew White, stated, "Every match against England is special, but this series is even more significant as the upcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka, is less than six months away. Playing against a b team like England will give us an opportunity to understand our strengths and weaknesses. Before the World Cup, we will also tour Asian countries to gain experience playing in diverse conditions."
He further added that the team will have more opportunities to play T20 matches in the next five months than they have had so far. Therefore, every contest will be an excellent chance for practice and confidence-building. Only two T20 International matches have been played between Ireland and England to date. The first match was scheduled to be played in 2010 but was abandoned due to rain.
The second match was played in the T20 World Cup 2022, which was affected by rain. Ireland won that match by five runs. This will now be the first full T20 series between the two teams, which will serve as a significant platform for experience and competition for both sides.
Ireland T20 Squad
Paul Stirling (Captain), Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, and Craig Young.
