Big Picture: A rare Test for Ireland
Expectations, as a result, are modest. There is no serious sense of which players have red-ball form leading in. And although for New Zealand, this is part of their build-up to a significant series against England, Ireland have no Tests scheduled for the remainder of their summer. As Ireland players no longer feature significantly in the County Championship, and as Ireland’s system does not feature red-ball cricket at even club level, the hosts have significant challenges to overcome.
New Zealand have had little red-ball cricket too, their last two major assignments having been a difficult white-ball tour of Bangladesh, and the T20 World Cup in which they were runners-up. But their cricketers have the benefit of a much more robust first-class infrastructure, in addition to substantial Test experience. Four-dayers are also lighter work than they are accustomed to at the top level. They will lean on that pedigree in their first competitive match on the British/Irish Isles. As Ireland are not in the World Test Championship, there are no points on the line.
Form guide
(For what it’s worth)
Ireland: LLWWW (the most-recent of these three victories came in February 2025, against Zimbabwe)
New Zealand: WWDWW
In the spotlight
Pitch and conditions
Ordinarily the surface at Belfast offers plenty of zip and seam movement for the quicks, particularly in May. But temperatures have sizzled into the mid-20s celsius range, which apparently passes for a heat wave in Northern Ireland. The weather is forecast to be warm-ish again for the next few days, so perhaps this surface will be better for batting than in previous Tests. There’s a chance spin will play a more significant role as well.
Team news
At the top of the Ireland batting order, Egan and Stephen Doheny are in a tussle to step into Stirling’s position, with Doheny the likelier choice. Seamer Liam McCarthy could be in line for a debut, as could 19-year-old quick Reuben Wilson, who is one of the brightest players to have come through Ireland’s age-group system. If the track is suitably dry, they may also think about playing Matthew Humphreys in the XI, though they do already have McBrine as a spin option.
Ireland (possible): 1 Andy Balbirnie (capt.), 2 Stephen Doheny, 3 Cade Carmicheal, 4 Harry Tector, 5 Curtis Campher, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Andy McBrine, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Liam McCarthy/Thomas Mayes, 10 Craig Young, 11 Reuben Wilson
New Zealand also have young players they will be looking to blood. There may be a debut in store for offspin-bowling arrounder Dean Foxcroft, in the absence of Glenn Phillips. There are plenty of seamers on tour to choose from, but Kyle Jamieson, Will O’ Rourke and Ben Sears – all three of whom are rapid – offer a potentially exhilarating combination.
New Zealand (possible): 1 Tom Latham (capt.), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Henry Nicholls, 7 Tom Blundell (wk), 8 Dean Foxcroft, 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Will O’Rourke, 11 Ben Sears
Stats and trivia
Quotes
“It’s been a long time since we played, so you are starting a little bit from scratch. For me and the team it’s about trying to find our rhythm reasonably quickly, then it will give us a chance to play our brand and our style.”
New Zealand captain Tom Latham
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo. @afidelf
