Lord's, MCG, Newlands, Kensington Oval... and now, Stormont! This quaint Belfast venue is poised to make cricket history by hosting Northern Ireland’s inaugural Test match. On Thursday, Ireland and Zimbabwe will kick off the game, making Stormont the 123rd ground to host a men's Test match.
Ireland, still in their infancy in Test cricket with just six years under their belt, marked their debut against Pakistan at Malahide, a significant milestone for the sport on the island. However, true to Irish weather, the first day was rained out, and financial limitations have since kept Test cricket off Irish soil.
This week, the five-day format makes a highly anticipated return, generating excitement in Belfast as cricket’s pinnacle event arrives. National men's selector Andrew White unveiled Ireland’s 15-member squad for this momentous occasion, particularly significant for the former international player.
White, who earned 232 caps and competed in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, representing Northern Ireland and playing for Belfast club Instonians, retired before Ireland’s maiden Test in 2018. Reflecting on the achievement, he shared his excitement, noting that a decade or more ago, they never believed this would happen. He mentioned that the players, especially those from the north, are eagerly anticipating the event.
Key players like Mark Adair and Paul Stirling, who have extensive experience playing in Belfast, see this match as a significant event. White emphasised the historic nature of this match for Northern Irish cricket, expressing hopes for a victory.
Ireland celebrated their first Test win on their eighth attempt in March, defeating Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi. For context, New Zealand waited 45 games for their first Test win, and India took 24 matches. The victory against Afghanistan was fuelled by half-centuries from seasoned players Andrew Balbirnie and Stirling, along with Adair's impressive eight-wicket haul.
These players will be crucial for Ireland's success, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker and all-rounder Curtis Campher, both of whom have scored Test centuries. The squad also sees Gavin Hoey earning his first call-up and spinner Matthew Humphreys returning after his debut against Sri Lanka last year.
As Ireland ranks just one place below Zimbabwe, currently 10th in the Test rankings, the match promises to be a closely contested affair.