Former Zimbabwe international Peter Moor named in Ireland's Test squads

Senior batter Paul Stirling sat out, even as former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Peter Moor was named in Ireland’s squads for an upcoming Test each against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Other than that, Ireland also revealed their touring sides for the three ODIs and T20Is each against Bangladesh – the first of which falls on March 18 – as well as the only Test and two ODIs in Sri Lanka that start April 18 onwards.
However, Stirling will be leading Ireland in the ODIs against Sri Lanka in the absence of rested regular captain Andy Balbirnie, who is set to captain his country across all formats in Bangladesh, and the Test in Sri Lanka.

Ireland will also be missing left-arm seamer Josh Little, who will be involved only in the ODIs against Bangladesh, after which he is due to fly to India for his first stint in the IPL, where he was picked by defending champions Gujarat Titans. In fact, Little will also be playing for Multan Sultans in the PSL just before Ireland tour Bangladesh.

The Test against Bangladesh will be Ireland’s first game in the format since July 2019, when they had faced England at Lord’s. So far, they have played only three Tests – the others being against Pakistan and Afghanistan – since obtaining Full Member status in 2017.

As for Moor, he had qualified for Ireland last October itself, although he was overlooked for the tour of the country of his birth for three T20Is and ODIs each last month. Moor, 32, has represented Zimbabwe in eight Tests, 49 ODIs and 21 T20Is, with his last appearance for them coming in a T20I in October 2019.

“He’s played a bit of Test cricket in Bangladesh and gives us some experience in that middle order,” Ireland coach Heinrich Malan said of Moor. “He has played international cricket [before], and it’s nice to have someone with that calibre in and around our environment.”
The ODIs against Bangladesh form part of the Super League, as Ireland – currently ranked No. 11 in the table – seek direct qualification for the World Cup in India later this year, where the top eight teams from the Super League straightaway gain entry, with two others to be selected via qualifiers.

Ireland squads

ODIs and T20Is against Bangladesh: Andy Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Stephen Doheny (ODIs only), Josh Little (ODIs only), Andrew McBrine (ODIs only), Ross Adair (T20Is only), Conor Olphert (T20Is only), Craig Young (T20Is only)

One-off Test against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka: Andy Balbirnie (Capt), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Peter Moor (wk), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Mark Adair (Bangladesh only), Matthew Foster (Sri Lanka only)

ODIs against Sri Lanka: Paul Stirling (capt), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Conor Olphert, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Craig Young

Source: ESPN Crickinfo

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