Injury Forces Paul Stirling Out of Ireland's Test Against New Zealand
Paul Stirling, an experienced batter, has been ruled out of Ireland's one-off Test against New Zealand at Stormont next week due to a calf injury. The 35-year-old briefly participated in this week's Emerald Challenge, a first-class red-ball fixture, but was not deemed fit enough to bat in the four-day match. His return is anticipated by early July. Stirling has not batted since suffering a knee ligament injury during Ireland's defeat by Australia at the T20 World Cup in February. Ireland coach Henrich Malan confirmed, "Paul had a scan yesterday. He has a grade two strain and his return to playing will be determined." He noted that Stirling's injury recovery has faced setbacks due to lingering issues from the severe knee injury. In addition to Stirling, leg-spinning all-rounder Gavin Hoey is unavailable due to a side strain, while seamer Barry McCarthy is sidelined with a knee ligament injury. Curtis Campher will step in as a batter against the Kiwis. Ticket sales for the match show promising interest, with around 75% sold for the first two days at Stormont, which has a capacity of approximately 1,500. This Test marks Ireland's first on home soil since a victory over Zimbabwe in July 2024. Ireland Test captain Andrew Balbirnie emphasized the significance of the match, stating, "Any time you play New Zealand in whatever format, you know it's going to be tough." He encouraged his players to embrace the challenge without added pressure, aiming for a positive attitude throughout the game.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-22