Andrew Balbirnie Dropped from Ireland’s T20I Squad for South Africa Series
Dublin [Ireland], September 12: Ireland’s Test captain Andrew Balbirnie has been dropped from the T20I squad for the series against South Africa later this month in Abu Dhabi. Balbirnie, the second-highest run-scorer for Ireland in T20Is, has struggled in 2024, averaging 24.83 in 12 innings with a strike rate of 113.74.
National selector Andrew White explained that the team is looking to explore a new dynamic top order. He said, “One area we will explore on this tour is the top order in our T20 squad. We’ll be looking at introducing a new dynamic, with Andrew Balbirnie sitting out the T20Is on this occasion. There are only two T20Is in the upcoming series, but they will offer important opportunities as we try to increase our levels of performance again.”
While Balbirnie has been sidelined from the T20I set-up, he will still play in the three-match ODI series against South Africa. White added, “Andrew remains very much central to our thoughts and will open the batting in the ODIs.”
Experienced pacer Josh Little is not featuring in either squad due to his involvement in the Caribbean Premier League for the Trinbago Knight Riders. Uncapped legspinner Gavin Hoey is in contention for an ODI debut after being named in the ODI squad. Stephen Doheny and Andy McBrine will also feature in the ODIs.
White emphasized the importance of the upcoming years for Ireland’s white-ball squads, stating, “2026 and 2027 are pivotal years for our white-ball squads – those years being the next T20 and 50-over World Cups, respectively. Given their timeframes, it means we are looking at this upcoming series against South Africa as the start of a new cycle. We need to deepen our pool of international cricketers, and for the likes of Gavin Hoey, he will come into the international arena with greater confidence following his involvement in such fixtures, and this is hugely important. The volume of international fixtures leading into 2027 is exciting, and there will be opportunities for players to make their mark.”
The two-match T20I series will kick off on September 27 and conclude on September 29. The three ODIs will be played on October 2, 4, and 7 in Abu Dhabi.
Ireland T20I squad for South Africa:
Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Matthew Humphreys, Graham Hume, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.
Ireland ODI squad for South Africa:
Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
Doubts Revealed
Andrew Balbirnie -: Andrew Balbirnie is a cricketer from Ireland who plays for the national team. He is the captain of the Test team.
T20I -: T20I stands for Twenty20 International, which is a short format of cricket where each team plays 20 overs.
South Africa Series -: This refers to a series of cricket matches that Ireland will play against the South African cricket team.
Abu Dhabi -: Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, where the cricket series will take place.
National selector -: A national selector is a person who helps choose the players for the national cricket team.
ODI -: ODI stands for One Day International, which is a format of cricket where each team plays 50 overs.
Josh Little -: Josh Little is an experienced fast bowler from Ireland who is currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League.
Caribbean Premier League -: The Caribbean Premier League is a professional cricket league in the Caribbean where teams from different countries compete.
Uncapped legspinner -: An uncapped player is someone who has not yet played for the national team. A legspinner is a type of bowler who spins the ball from leg to off side.
Gavin Hoey -: Gavin Hoey is a new player in the Ireland cricket team who has not played in international matches before.
White-ball squads -: White-ball squads refer to the teams that play in limited-overs cricket formats like T20I and ODI, where a white ball is used.
