Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie is looking forward to see how former Ulster rugby player Ross Adair and Stephen Doheny adapt to international cricket ahead of their respective debuts tomorrow against Zimbabwe in the T20I series.
Ireland begin preparations for a tilt at qualification for two World Cups that are taking place in 2023, Three T20 fixtures will be followed by three one-day internationals, all to be played at the Harare Sports Club.
Tomorrow (1pm Irish time) Ireland kick-off the series against the same opposition that defeated them by 31 runs at the at the T20 World Cup in October.
Tyrone Kane has earned a recall, while head coach Heinrich Malan will be hopeful that the introduction of Adair, the 28-year old all-rounder who scored a try in his only senior appearance for Ulster in 2015, and Doheny, will add further depth to his batting line-up.
The pair replace regulars Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker, who are tied up with franchise cricket in the ILT20.
Balbirnie is eagerly looking forward to what the sprinkling of fresh talent can inject to the Irish performance.
"It's an incredible sporting story" - Ireland captain @balbo90 on Ross Adair - former Ulster rugby pro - who opens the batting against Zimbabwe in the first T20 match of the tour tomorrow
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 11, 2023
Leinster Lightning's Stephen Doheny also makes his Ireland debut, batting at No.3 pic.twitter.com/KasOykAQuj
"We know the way we want to play and how we have played over the last few months and we want guys who come into the squad to buy into that," he said.
"Ross will open with me [tomorrow]. With his impressive interpro form, it's exciting to see how he does.
"Stephen has been around the squad a long time, the guts of a year, without getting a chance, but the way he has trained and carried himself has been really impressive.
"He’s naturally been really disappointed when he hasn’t played, but I have no idea he will be champing at the bit tomorrow once he gets going."
The weather in Harare has been mixed, but Balbirnie isn’t expecting it to have a significant impact on proceedings.
"There was lightning and thunderstorm last night, but the ground takes it pretty well. You might see some interruptions during the games, but by and large, we are expecting it to be good cricket between two countries that know each other pretty well."
Ireland will be in action on Saturday and Sunday, before the three-match ODI series starts next Wednesday.
