Stormont in line to host Test next year with Afghans ready to tour
STORMONT could host its first Test Match as early as next July, with reports coming out of Afghanistan yesterday saying that they will tour Ireland next summer.
Ireland’s first Test against Pakistan has already been confirmed for May 11-15 with Malahide the likely venue, but a second Test is almost certain to come north, with the Belfast venue favourite ahead of Bready, which may host the one-day series between the teams.
Meanwhile, Paul Stirling, William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien are the nominees for the Turkish Airlines Player of the Year Trophy, to be presented at the Cricket Ireland awards in Dublin tomorrow week.
Porterfield, the Ireland captain, is the year’s highest runs scorer with 849, while Stirling, the player of the series against Afghanistan back in March had scores of 99 and 95 in India. O’Brien scored 72 not out to take Ireland to one of only two wins in Greater Noida; he has also taken 19 wickets this year. Other Nominations: Inter-pro Player of Year: George Dockrell, Kevin O’Brien, James Shannon; Emerging Player: Jacob Mulder, Aoife Beggs, Rachel Delaney; Coach: Ryan Eagleson, Julie Logue, Kamal Merchant; Academy: James Shannon, Simi Singh, Club Player: George Dockrell, David Rankin, James Shannon; Male Youth International: Harry Tector, Josh Little, Graham Kennedy, Mitchell Thompson; Female Youth: Gaby Lewis, Orla Prendergast, Amy Hunter, Groundsman: Dale McDonough, Matt Read, Trevor Hamilton; Official: Mary McElwee, Gerard O’Sullivan, Andrew Mooney; Club of Year: Waringstown, Ballyspallen, Limerick. JOE Schmidt is expected to give a debut to Bundee Aki when he names his team this afternoon to face South Africa, but the Ireland coach’s focus is likely to be elsewhere as he counts the cost of a tough week’s training.
Training-ground injuries for Keith Earls and Jack McGrath could rule them out, while Sean O’Brien is also carrying a knock but is expected to be picked at openside.
Andrew Conway will come in for his fellow Munsterman Earls on the right wing if he is ruled out, with Jacob Stockdale in line for the biggest game of his career on the left and Rob Kearney favourite to complete the back-three.
Aki will be reunited with his old Connacht partner Robbie Henshaw in the centre, while Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton will line up at half-back.
Up front, Cian Healy will be asked to carry his fine Leinster form into an Ireland jersey alongside Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong in McGrath’s absence, with Dave Kilcoyne on the bench.
Iain Henderson will join Devin Toner in the second-row, while highly rated James Ryan could be selected ahead of Ultan Dillane on the bench. Peter O’Mahony is likely to join O’Brien and CJ Stander in an all-Lions back-row. Possible Ireland team: R Kearney; A Conway, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Stockdale; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (capt), T Furlong; I Henderson, D Toner; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, CJ Stander. Reps: R Herring, D Kilcoyne, John Ryan, James Ryan, R Ruddock, K Marmion, J Carbery, D Kearney.