Ireland and Sri Lanka mutually agree to replace ODI series with an additional Test

Ireland (Photo Source: Cricket Ireland)

COLOMBO and DUBLIN – Cricket Ireland has today confirmed it has agreed to a schedule change that will see Ireland Men’s tour of Sri Lanka in April become a two-match Test series in Galle.

The previously advertised bilateral schedule saw the two sides playing a single Test and two ODIs, however it was mutually agreed that the two ODIs would instead become a Test Match.

The tour dates will not change, with the scheduled arrival of the Irish squad being 9 April and departure on 29 April.

FIXTURE SCHEDULE

16-20 April: Sri Lanka Men v Ireland Men – Test Match (Galle)
24-28 April: Sri Lanka Men v Ireland Men – Test Match (Galle)

THE SQUAD

Andrew Balbirnie (Capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.

Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director at Cricket Ireland, said:

“When we were approached by Sri Lanka Cricket about the possibility of a change to the schedule, our immediate thoughts were around our white-ball priority, given the potential 50-over World Cup qualification later this year still being a tangible outcome. Talking through our priorities and their priorities, we agreed to the late change given that the Test series is preceded by six white-ball matches in Bangladesh, and followed by three further ODIs after we return home.

“Exposing our playing group to an extended period in Asian conditions will be beneficial to their development and given the World Cup this year is in India, the more exposure to these conditions, the better – despite it being a different format.”

Ireland is one nation that does not get to play Test matches often. So far, the Irish men have played only three Test matches, and their upcoming one-off Test against Bangladesh will be their fourth red-ball game ever. Thus, the move of scrapping the ODI series and getting one more Test match into the scenario will prove to be very much beneficial for Ireland.