Boost for Ireland as opener added to squad for second Sri Lanka Test

Stirling flew back home after Ireland's white-ball tour of Bangladesh but will participate in the second Test against Sri Lanka after changes to the schedule.

The tour of Sri Lanka was originally set to include a one-off Test and two ODIs, but the limited-overs fixtures were later scrapped to accommodate an additional Test.

Stirling has now been added to the 15-member squad for the second Test, with the series starting on 16 April. Both the Test matches will be played in Galle.

On Stirling's selection, Andrew White, national selector at Cricket Ireland stated, "Paul was originally set to join the squad in Sri Lanka for the ODI series that was originally planned. However, with those fixtures now converted to a Test match, and the scheduled Bangladesh T20I series in Ireland postponed, he will now have a greater focus on red-ball cricket and will join the Test squad for that second Test.”

Before the series in Sri Lanka, Ireland will first turn their focus on a one-off Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, starting 4 April. Stirling won't be a part of that squad.

Ireland squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Andrew Balbirnie (c), 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 will only be available for selection for the second Test