Balbirnie leads depleted Ireland squad for historic NZ Test at Stormont
Synopsis
Ireland face New Zealand in their first-ever Test meeting — and they're doing it without Paul Stirling, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, and two others, all injured. Four uncapped players could debut at Stormont. Balbirnie, the only man to play all 12 Irish Tests, leads a squad that reflects both how far Ireland have come and how thin their margins remain.
Key Takeaways
Andrew Balbirnie will captain Ireland for the 10th time in Tests when they host New Zealand at Stormont, Belfast , from 27 to 30 May .
This is Ireland's 13th Test and their first-ever against New Zealand .
Five players are ruled out injured: Paul Stirling (calf), Josh Little , Barry McCarthy (ACL, out until 2027), Gavin Hoey (side strain), and Jordan Neill (shoulder).
Four players — Jake Egan , Tom Mayes , Liam McCarthy , and Reuben Wilson — are in line for potential Test debuts.
Ireland next host India for two T20Is on 26 and 28 June , followed by five ODIs against Afghanistan in August.
Ireland are set to tour Pakistan for the first time in January 2027 .
Andrew Balbirnie will captain Ireland for the 10th time in Test cricket when they host New Zealand in a one-off match at Stormont, Belfast, from 27 to 30 May — a fixture that marks Ireland's first-ever Test encounter against the Blackcaps. Cricket Ireland confirmed the squad on 22 May, with several key players absent due to injury.
Key Absentees Through Injury
Ireland head into the match severely short-handed. Paul Stirling is sidelined with a calf injury, while Josh Little is also ruled out. Barry McCarthy faces the longest road back, having suffered an ACL tear that keeps him out until 2027. Gavin Hoey is nursing a side strain, and Jordan Neill is recovering from a shoulder muscle injury. Curtis Campher is in the squad but has yet to resume bowling.
Potential Debutants in the Frame
The injury-enforced reshuffle opens the door for four uncapped players. Jake Egan, Tom Mayes, Liam McCarthy, and Reuben Wilson are all in contention to earn their first Test caps if named in the playing eleven. Their possible inclusion adds a layer of intrigue to what is already a landmark fixture for Irish cricket.
Historic Context: Ireland's 13th Test
The match against New Zealand will be Ireland's 13th Test overall and their first against the Blackcaps, who won the 2021 World Test Championship. Ireland have claimed three Test victories to date, including a memorable win at Stormont in 2024 against Zimbabwe. Balbirnie is the only player to have featured in all 12 of Ireland's Tests so far, making his continued presence all the more significant for a side rebuilding around a thin pool of fit players.
A Packed Summer and Beyond
The New Zealand Test is just the opening act of a demanding schedule for Ireland. They will next host reigning Men's T20 World Cup champions India for two T20Is at Stormont on 26 and 28 June, followed by a five-match ODI series against Afghanistan from 5 to 14 August at Bready and Stormont. Ireland are then set to travel to Nepal for a white-ball series under a five-year strategic partnership, before a warm-weather training camp and white-ball series in the UAE — where Irish players will also feature in the ILT20 as part of a five-year agreement with the Emirates Cricket Board. In January 2027, Ireland are scheduled to tour Pakistan for the first time in a multi-format series, with a possible third nation added to the programme, before facing Afghanistan again in the UAE.
Ireland's Full Squad
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Reuben Wilson, Craig Young.
With five key players unavailable and four potential debutants in the mix, Ireland's challenge against New Zealand will test the depth of their Test programme — and the resilience of a squad that has quietly built one of cricket's more unlikely success stories.
Point of View
With four potential debutants and a depleted squad, is precisely the kind of adversity that hardens a young Test programme. The more telling number is this: Balbirnie is the only player to have appeared in all 12 Irish Tests. That singular continuity at the top says everything about Ireland's depth problem — and their dependence on one man's fitness and form to anchor the entire enterprise.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Ireland vs New Zealand Test 2025?
The one-off Test between Ireland and New Zealand takes place from 27 to 30 May at Stormont, Belfast. It will be Ireland's 13th Test match and their first-ever against New Zealand.
Why are Paul Stirling and Josh Little not in Ireland's squad?
Both Paul Stirling and Josh Little are ruled out due to injury. Stirling is nursing a calf injury, while Barry McCarthy is sidelined until 2027 following an ACL tear. Gavin Hoey (side strain) and Jordan Neill (shoulder muscle injury) are also absent.
Who could make their Test debut for Ireland against New Zealand?
Four players — Jake Egan, Tom Mayes, Liam McCarthy, and Reuben Wilson — are in contention for their first Test caps if selected in the playing eleven for the Stormont match.
How many Tests has Ireland won so far?
Ireland have won three Tests to date. Their most recent win at Stormont came in 2024 against Zimbabwe. Andrew Balbirnie is the only player to have featured in all 12 of Ireland's Tests.
What is Ireland's cricket schedule after the New Zealand Test?
Ireland host India for two T20Is on 26 and 28 June at Stormont, then play five ODIs against Afghanistan from 5 to 14 August. They subsequently travel to Nepal and the UAE before a historic first tour to Pakistan in January 2027.
