Injured Stirling out of Ireland-New Zealand Test
"Paul had a scan yesterday. He has a grade two strain and his return to playing will be determined," Ireland coach Henrich Malan told a news conference. "He obviously got injured at the World Cup, he's been on a return to play plan and it hasn't necessarily worked out 100% for him with a couple of niggles that's been lingering in and around that knee injury, which was obviously quite severe.
"Hopefully this one [with his calf] can be rehabbed properly. But it could be a four to five week job to ensure that he's fully fit and ready to go for the rest of the summer. " Leg-spinning all-rounder Gavin Hoey is unavailable because of a side strain while seamer Barry McCarthy misses our with a knee ligament injury.
All-rounder Curtis Campher will play solely as a batter against the Kiwis for the match from 27-30 May. Around 75% of the tickets have been sold for each of the first two days of the match at Stormont, which will have a capacity of around 1,500 for the fixture. The Test is Ireland's first on home soil since a memorable four-wicket win over Zimbabwe at the same venue in July 2024.
Ireland Test captain Andrew Balbirnie said the match presents a "great opportunity" for his side even though they play Test cricket so infrequently. "Any time you play New Zealand in whatever format, you know, it's going to be tough," he said. "We're not going to put any sort of pressure on our guys.
I think we just want them to go out and enjoy the occasion and express themselves and adapt as quickly as they can. "There will be times we will be under pressure throughout the game. It's just hoping that the guys come out with a positive attitude towards that pressure.