For the upcoming series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, Ireland has announced their white-ball squads, marking their return to limited-overs cricket after their participation in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. One of the most significant decisions was to leave out Test captain Andy Balbirnie from the T20I team.
Andy Balbirnie is Ireland’s second highest run scorer in T20Is but his form has dwindled throughout this year; with 12 innings he has an average of 24.83 and a strike rate of 113.74. His absence from Leinster Lightning’s last T20 game indicated possible changes with Lorcan Tucker being mooted as a replacement for him at the top of order alongside Paul Stirling.
Team selector Andrew White said the team is looking to build new combinations at the top of order in T20, with Balbirnie omitted from this series but remaining crucial for Ireland’s ODI plans, where he will continue as an opener. The series against South Africa is seen as the beginning of a new phase for the team going forward with regard to future ICC events due in 2026 and 2027.
“On this occasion we will be making a change in the line up with Andrew Balbirnie missing out from the T20Is. We only have two T20Is in our forthcoming series, but these matches will provide us with a chance to address our performance issues,” said White.
Nevertheless, he reiterated that Balbirnie is still one of the key players for Ireland’s upcoming matches and he will come back to open the batting during the ODI series against South Africa.
Moreover, White stated that this series is like a fresh beginning for new cycle on account of significant ICC events planned in 2026 (Men’s T20 World Cup) and 2027 (Men’s Cricket World Cup).
“2026 and 2027 are crucial years for our white ball teams, as those are when we will host next T20 as well as fifty over World Cups respectively; therefore we view this tour to South Africa as simply start of new cycle,” said White again.
The relevance of Gavin Hoey is that he will become an international player as well as the need to develop a wide range of international cricketers. In this case, it is immensely important since Gavin Hoey will participate in such fixtures before stepping into the international arena. The number of international fixtures scheduled before 2027 is thrilling because players can leave their mark.
Ireland’s teams are composed of veterans such as Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, and Harry Tector; whereas, there are new entrants like Matthew Humphreys who has been included in T20 squad with Ben White which indicates that Ireland aims at having long-term success.
Ireland Men’s ODI squad: Paul Stirling (c), 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 (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Matthew Humphreys, Graham Hume, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White,
