Stirling is ready to make Knights bow as inter-pro series gets under way at long last
THERE will be no spectators at Pembroke and strict Covid-19 measures will be in place at Bready but, finally, three months after the inter-provincial season was due to begin, the first two games will be played today (1.30pm) — weather-permitting.
Paul Stirling makes his first appearance for Northern Knights and Andrew Balbirnie captains a Leinster Lightning side which also includes Gareth Delany, but it will be the first and last games in the T20 competition for the three Ireland internationals.
The trio have been snapped up as overseas players for the T20 Blast, which starts next Thursday and continues until September 20, and dashes Cricket Ireland’s hopes of having all their best players available for the 18-match representative season.
Announcing their no-objection certificate for all-rounder Delany to join Leicestershire, CI High Performance Director Richard Holdsworth said: “We spoke to the Lightning coaches and agreed the valuable development experience Gareth will gain from this opportunity will be of longterm benefit to Irish cricket.”
The same can hardly be said for Stirling — and it wasn’t when he signed for Northamptonshire back in January — who has been forced to end a 10-year professional career with Middlesex, and Ireland captain Balbirnie who, like Stirling, turns 30 this year.
But it gives opportunities to other players to state their case for promotion from the next level down and, now in its eighth season, the two white-ball series promise to be the most competitive yet.
Afterwards, Lightning can still call on nine of the Ireland 22 who were at the training camp in England ahead of the World Cup Super League matches and Knights also have nine internationals in their squad for today’s game against North West Warriors.
It was 11 but Greg Thompson and James Cameron-dow are unavailable and have been replaced by Josh Manley, fresh from his two appearances for North in the Development games against South, and CJ van der Walt.
Warriors have also had to make changes to their 13-man squad with teenagers Kyle Magee, another of the North’s Development side, and Coleraine’s Varun Chopra replacing the injured Boyd Rankin and Conor Olphert.
Balbirnie takes over the captaincy for the game against Munster Reds because George Dockrell is on examination leave and with Barry Mccarthy still not fit to return, Greg Ford comes into the squad of 12.