BELFAST (Web Desk) - Ireland are set to host their first Test in almost two years, and play their fourth since the start of 2025. You would think New Zealand's Test calendar has been substantially busier than that, but though currently ranked No. 5 and routinely one of best red-ball sides in the world, even they have only played five Tests in the last 18 months. This, increasingly, is the direction of the format outside the three power centres.
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.
Ireland had, at least, managed a first-class fixture to get their Test cricketers into some kind of rhythm, over the past two weeks. In that four-dayer (this Test is also four days) at Malahide Ireland lost one of their experienced batters, with Paul Stirling picking up an injury. But the match did, at least, put some helpful overs in the legs of the seamers, with Mark Adair - who is likely to take the new ball for Ireland - picking up figures of 4 for 71 and 2 for 9. Lorcan Tucker, Andy McBrine, and Curtis Campher - key batters in thier middle order - all hit fifties as well. The Australian-born Jake Egan was the only centurion, on first-class debut. Which means that if selected in place of Stirling on Wednesday, he could make a Test debut in only his second first-class fixture.
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.
So far in Ireland's Test journey, wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker has emerged their best batter in the format, averaging an excellent 43.93, with hundred in Bangladesh and four fifties to go with it. Tucker's 62 in the first innings of that four-dayer suggested he wasn't too far out of touch. With McBrine batting next to him in the lineup, Ireland will look to their lower middle order to provide much-needed stability.
In his standard, quiet way, Tom Latham has been putting a solid captaincy record together. So far, New Zealand have 10 wins from 18 matches - but for some of those games Latham was merely stand-in captain. More relevant perhaps is his record since being appointed captain more permanently, and since 2024, Latham has led New Zealand to six wins and just two losses. Three of those wins came in one series in India - a feat almost unthinkable for most New Zealand captains before him. The two losses, however, have come against England. If he can begin well in Belfast, and spearhead another excellent overseas tour over the next six weeks, Latham has the chance to enter his name into New Zealand captaincy legend.
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.
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 more proven 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. Matt Hollard may also have a shot of making a debut, having taken a four-wicket haul in the warm-up four-dayer.
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.
Ireland (possible): Andy Balbirnie (capt.), Stephen Doheny/Jake Egan, Cade Carmicheal, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Andy Balbirnie, Mark Adair, Liam McCarthy, Matt Hollard/Matthew Humphreys, Reuben Wilson
New Zealand (possible): Tom Latham (capt.), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Kyle Jamieson, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears