Ireland is slated to play a home Test against Zimbabwe in Belfast next week. The buzz around the red-ball game is justified as it is the first time in six years that the Irish will put up a show in white on their home turf. After acquiring Test status, the European nation have only played one Test in Ireland, against Pakistan in 2018. Andrew White, National Men’s Selector of Ireland, unveiled the 14-member squad in a press conference on Wednesday.
There were no surprises as most of the revealed squad had already been worked out by fans and pundits. Andy Balbirnie will lead the team with seniors including Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, and Curtis Campher assisting him in winning their first Test at home. However, seeing Matthew Humphrey get a call-up as a reward for his 10-fer at the same ground a couple of weeks ago, surely is a pleasant surprise for the fans. He will aid the uncapped Gavin Hoey and Andy McBrine in handling the spin affairs.
Humphrey had a tough run in his debut Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, where he ended wicketless in ten overs. However, the way he bowled for Emerging Ireland a few weeks ago showed that he is ready for the challenges red-ball loves to throw. Talking about his progress, White said,
“Humphreys made his Test debut in Sri Lanka and found the going difficult against good players of spin out in the subcontinent. He’d admit himself that he went through a period of a loss of form and maybe a loss of confidence, but he’s worked extremely hard to come back into the reckoning and his performances for Ireland Wolves have been exactly what we were looking for. Obviously in the West Indies last year for Emerging Ireland, then in Nepal, and has now backed it up in the recent series for the Emerging Ireland side against West Indies Academy, where he took 10 wickets. But it’s the consistency he has shown over the last period which has been really pleasing and he very much deserves his call-up.”
While Hoey might not get a chance to flaunt his tweaking skills, the chance to rub shoulders with the seniors as well as see some of the better players in Zimbabwe can help him get ready for when he really will get the cap. White hinted at the management’s plan for Hoey during the conference by saying,
“Hoey is a talented leg spinner, and his ability to spin the ball both ways gives us a strong wicket-taking option. Again, he’s a player that’s been on the radar for a while and can play across all three formats. But this is an opportunity for him to come into the Test squad and get used to the environment.”
Ireland 14-member squad: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
The Test match will begin on the 25th of July at Civil Services Cricket Club, Belfast.
