The Irish Cricket Union has announced that they have signed a second overseas player, 22-year-old New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder.
He goes straight into the squad of 13 for Ireland's Friends Provident games with Gloucestershire and Essex, which take place at Clontarf on Thursday and Sunday. Both games start at 10.45am.
The left hander plays for Wellington and has represented New Zealand A. He has scored 2344 runs in 36 First Class games at an average of 44.88.
He also bowls brisk medium pace and is seen as a natural replacement for Andre Botha, who sustained a finger injury in the defeat to Somerset.
Ireland coach Phil Simmons said of the signing, 'Jesse is a quality player, and one that I've heard glowing reports about.
'He is a fine striker of the ball, and will bat at number three in our line up.
'He's an exciting talent, who just missed out on selection for the New Zealand World Cup squad.'
The selectors have also named Roger Whelan of Railway Union to replace John Mooney, who is unavailable due to work commitments.
Ireland are still without their trio of county based players, Boyd Rankin, Eoin Morgan, and Niall O' Brien.
The squad in full is as follows:
Trent Johnston - (Railway Union) Captain
Jeremy Bray (Eglinton)
Kenny Carroll (Railway Union)
Peter Gillespie (Strabane)
Nantie Hayward (Overseas)
David Langford-Smith (Phoenix)
Kyle Mc Callan (Waringstown)
Kevin O' Brien (Railway Union)
William Porterfield (Donemana)
Jesse Ryder (Overseas)
Andrew White (Instonians)
Roger Whelan (Railway Union)
Gary Wilson (Surrey)
