Photo Credit: Bangladesh Cricket Board
After an intriguing Test match against Bangladesh earlier this month, Ireland Men have travelled to Galle for a historic two-Test series against Sri Lanka. This will be the first time the sides have met for a Test match and, effectively, Ireland Men’s first-ever Test series.
Here’s what you need to know about the tour.
TOUR SCHEDULE
• 16-20 April: Sri Lanka Men v Ireland Men – 1st Test Match
(Galle; starts 10am local time / 5.30am Ireland time)
• 24-28 April: Sri Lanka Men v Ireland Men – 2nd Test Match
(Galle; starts 10am local time / 5.30am Ireland time)
THE SQUADS
Ireland Men’s Test squad
Andrew Balbirnie (Capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, James McCollum, Paul Stirling*, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.
* Paul Stirling only available for the second Test
Sri Lanka Men’s Test squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dushan Hemantha, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Milan Rathnayake.
BROADCAST DETAILS
There are a number of broadcasters providing coverage in the Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom:
• ROI: Premier Sports; Clubber TV
• UK : BT Sport
See more details here on broadcast arrangements.
WHERE TO FOLLOW
• Match updates can be found on Cricket Ireland’s social media channels Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Livescoring will be available here.
RECENT TEST FORM – IRELAND
• Lost to Bangladesh by 7 wickets in Mirpur in April 2022
• Lost to England by 143 runs at Lord’s in May 2019
• Lost to Afghanistan by 7 wickets in Dehradun in March 2019
• Lost to Pakistan by 5 wickets in Dublin in May 2018
RECENT TEST FORM – SRI LANKA
• Lost 2-0 to New Zealand in New Zealand in March 2023
• Drew 1-1 with Pakistan in Sri Lanka July 2022
• Drew 1-1 with Australia in Sri Lanka in July 2022
• Beat Bangladesh 1-0 in Bangladesh in May 2022
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ireland
Wicket-keeper Lorcan Tucker is coming into this series off the back of a marvellous maiden Test century against Bangladesh. The composure he showed throughout that innings will be vital against Sri Lanka.
Spin will be very much in demand in Galle, and with a masterful performance against Bangladesh where Andy McBrine took 7-170, he will undoubtedly play a big role here. He is also quite adept with the bat, scoring 72 in the second innings against Bangladesh.
Harry Tector has been in superb form of late, with back-to-back half centuries in the Bangladesh Test. In his last 15 ODI’s Harry has scored 869 runs at an average of 57.93, which included 8 half-centuries and three centuries, while top scoring with 113 against New Zealand in Dublin in July 2022.
Sri Lanka
Captain of the side is 34 year-old left-hand opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne. He is one of the most experienced players in the Sri Lanka side, having played in 84 Test matches, scoring 6,230 runs, averaging 39.93. His highest score of 244 was against Bangladesh in a drawn game at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka in April 2021
25 year-old right-arm seam bowler Asitha Fernando has only played nine Test matches but has taken 27 wickets in those games. In the second Test of the recent series against New Zealand he took 7 wickets for 148 runs.
Angelo Mathews has played over 100 Tests for his country. In the process he’s scored 7,118 runs (becoming only the 3rd Sri Lankan cricketer to pass 7,000 runs), at an average of 45.05. He scored his maiden Test double-hundred (200 not out) against Zimbabwe in 2020. He has also taken 33 Test wickets at an average of 54.06.
Name of Author: Cricket Ireland
Cricket Ireland, officially known as The Irish Cricket Union Company Limited by Guarantee, is the governing body for cricket on the island of Ireland. It oversees the national men’s and women’s teams and organizes the Inter-Provincial Series, Super 3s, and All-Ireland club competitions. Ireland achieved Test status for women in 2000 and for men in 2017 when it became a Full Member of the ICC.
