The Ireland cricket team has emerged as a credible international team in Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I). Known for its fighting spirit, talented batters, and developing pace-bowling attack, Ireland continues to build its strength in international competitions.
The Ireland cricket team 2026 squad comprises seasoned cricketers like Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, and Curtis Campher, as well as rising prospects like Jai Moondra, Reuben Wilson, and Ben Calitz. Team captains and teams are different for various formats and series.
In this article, you will find the Ireland 2026 cricket team list, squad, captain, position, coach, probable XI, major achievements, and frequently asked questions.
Ireland Cricket Team 2026: Overview, Captain, History
The Ireland men’s cricket team is the national cricket team of the island of Ireland and is managed by Cricket Ireland. The team plays Test cricket, One Day International (ODI) cricket and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket. In 2017, Ireland was granted Full Member ICC status, and they play Test cricket. It made its debut Test against Pakistan in May 2018, in Dublin.
Important progress has been made in Ireland’s international cricket. The team defeated England in a historic group-stage match during the 2011 World Cup, with Kevin O’Brien’s impressive century. Ireland have also defeated the West Indies in the ODI World Cup 2015. With its first win against Afghanistan in February 2024 and its first Test win at home against Zimbabwe in July 2024, Ireland has made a start in Test cricket.
Ireland have different captains, one for each format. Andrew Balbirnie is the captain of the Test team, Paul Stirling of the ODI team, and Lorcan Tucker was appointed as a permanent captain for the T20I team in June 2026.
The team’s work and training are mainly focused on developing youngsters, consistency across formats, and preparation for future international competition such as the qualification pathway to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
| Category | Details |
| Team Name | Ireland Men’s Cricket Team |
| Governing Body | Cricket Ireland |
| International Debut | 2006 (ODI cricket) |
| Country | Ireland |
| Cricket Formats | Test, ODI and T20I |
| Test Captain (2026) | Andrew Balbirnie |
| ODI Captain (2026) | Paul Stirling |
| T20I Captain (2026) | Lorcan Tucker |
| Head Coach | Gary Wilson |
| Home Grounds | Malahide, Stormont and Bready |
| Team Nickname | Ireland Men |
| Test Status | Full Member since 2017 |
| First Test Match | 2018 |
| Major International Goal | Qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup |
Ireland Cricket Team 2026: Players List, Roles and Key Strengths
Ireland’s men’s team has a mix of experienced international cricketers and younger players developing across all three formats. Its 2026–27 central contract list includes 25 men’s players, while the squad for each series depends on selection, injuries, and format requirements.
| Player | Role | Primary Strength |
| Paul Stirling | Batter | Aggressive opening batting |
| Andrew Balbirnie | Batter | Top-order batting |
| Harry Tector | Batter | Middle-order batting |
| Lorcan Tucker | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Batting and wicketkeeping |
| Mark Adair | Fast Bowler | Pace and lower-order batting |
| Ross Adair | Batter | Aggressive batting |
| Curtis Campher | All-rounder | Batting and medium pace |
| George Dockrell | All-rounder | Batting and left-arm spin |
| Gareth Delany | All-rounder | Batting and leg-spin |
| Andy McBrine | All-rounder | Off-spin and batting |
| Josh Little | Fast Bowler | Left-arm pace |
| Barry McCarthy | Fast Bowler | Seam bowling |
| Craig Young | Fast Bowler | Pace and swing |
| Matthew Humphreys | Left-arm Bowler | Spin bowling |
| Ben White | Leg-spinner | Spin bowling |
| Cade Carmichael | Batter | Top-order batting |
| Stephen Doheny | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Batting and wicketkeeping |
| Tim Tector | Batter | Top-order batting |
| Ben Calitz | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Batting and wicketkeeping |
| Jordan Neill | All-rounder | Batting and bowling |
| Tom Mayes | Fast Bowler | Pace bowling |
| Liam McCarthy | Fast Bowler | Pace bowling |
| Gavin Hoey | Spinner | Leg-spin bowling |
| Reuben Wilson | Bowler | Pace bowling |
| Matthew Hollard | Batter | Batting |
Player roles are indicative. Selection and availability vary by series.
Ireland Cricket Team 2026 ODI Squad: Players List, Captain, and Roles
Ireland’s latest scheduled ODI assignment is the five-match series against Namibia from 22 October to 1 November 2026. The announced tour squad contains 16 players. ([Cricket Ireland announcement, October 2026])
| Player | Role | Status |
| Paul Stirling (C) | Batter | Captain |
| Lorcan Tucker (VC) | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Vice-captain |
| Mark Adair | Fast Bowler | Squad member |
| Andrew Balbirnie | Batter | Squad member |
| Ben Calitz | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Squad member |
| Curtis Campher | All-rounder | Squad member |
| Cade Carmichael | Batter | Squad member |
| George Dockrell | All-rounder | Squad member |
| Gavin Hoey | Spinner | Squad member |
| Matthew Humphreys | Bowler | Squad member |
| Andy McBrine | All-rounder | Squad member |
| Liam McCarthy | Fast Bowler | Squad member |
| Byron McDonough | Fast Bowler | Squad member |
| Jai Moondra | Batter | Squad member |
| Jordan Neill | All-rounder | Squad member |
| Harry Tector | Batter | Squad member |
Ireland vs Namibia ODI Series 2026
| Category | Details |
| Opposition | Namibia |
| Format | ODI |
| Number of Matches | 5 |
| Start Date | 22 October 2026 |
| Final Match | 1 November 2026 |
| Captain | Paul Stirling |
| Vice-captain | Lorcan Tucker |
| Venue | Windhoek, Namibia |
Ireland Cricket Team 2026 Test Squad: Players List and Roles
Ireland continues to develop its Test cricket programme following its admission as an ICC Full Member in 2017. Ireland’s Test squad for the one-off match against New Zealand in May 2026 included 14 players.
| Player | Role |
| Andrew Balbirnie (C) | Batter |
| Mark Adair | Fast Bowler |
| Curtis Campher | All-rounder |
| Cade Carmichael | Batter |
| Stephen Doheny | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Jake Egan | Batter |
| Matthew Humphreys | Bowler |
| Tom Mayes | Fast Bowler |
| Andy McBrine | All-rounder |
| Liam McCarthy | Fast Bowler |
| Harry Tector | Batter |
| Lorcan Tucker | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Reuben Wilson | Bowler |
| Craig Young | Fast Bowler |
Ireland vs New Zealand Test Match 2026
| Category | Details |
| Opposition | New Zealand |
| Format | Test |
| Match Dates | 27–30 May 2026 |
| Captain | Andrew Balbirnie |
| Venue | Stormont, Belfast |
| Squad Size | 14 players |
This was the squad announced for the New Zealand Test, not a permanent squad for every Test match in 2026.
Ireland Cricket Team 2026 T20I Squad: Players List and Roles
Ireland’s T20I team focuses on aggressive batting, flexible all-rounders, and bowlers who can perform in powerplays and at the end of an innings. Lorcan Tucker became the permanent T20I captain in June 2026. The following table covers the 14 players selected for that series.
| Player | Role |
| Lorcan Tucker (C) | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Ross Adair | Batter |
| Ben Calitz | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Gareth Delany | All-rounder |
| George Dockrell | All-rounder |
| Stephen Doheny | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Matthew Humphreys | Bowler |
| Gavin Hoey | Spinner |
| Matthew Hollard | Batter |
| Liam McCarthy | Fast Bowler |
| Jai Moondra | Batter |
| Harry Tector | Batter |
| Tim Tector | Batter |
| Reuben Wilson | Bowler |
Ireland vs India T20I Series 2026
| Category | Details |
| Opposition | India |
| Format | T20 International |
| Captain | Lorcan Tucker |
| Series | Two-match series |
| Location | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Year | 2026 |
This is the squad selected for the India series, not a confirmed squad for every subsequent T20I.
Ireland Cricket Team 2026 Central Contracted Players: Full List and Roles
Cricket Ireland’s 2026–27 central contract programme includes established international performers and younger players who are gaining experience at the senior level. The contract list contains 25 men’s players, including 20 full-time contracts and five retainer contracts. A central contract does not guarantee selection for a particular series.
| Player | Role |
| Mark Adair | Fast Bowler |
| Ross Adair | Batter |
| Andrew Balbirnie | Batter |
| Ben Calitz | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Curtis Campher | All-rounder |
| Cade Carmichael | Batter |
| Gareth Delany | All-rounder |
| George Dockrell | All-rounder |
| Stephen Doheny | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Gavin Hoey | Spinner |
| Matthew Hollard | Batter |
| Matthew Humphreys | Bowler |
| Josh Little | Fast Bowler |
| Tom Mayes | Fast Bowler |
| Andy McBrine | All-rounder |
| Barry McCarthy | Fast Bowler |
| Liam McCarthy | Fast Bowler |
| Jordan Neill | All-rounder |
| Paul Stirling | Batter |
| Harry Tector | Batter |
| Tim Tector | Batter |
| Lorcan Tucker | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Ben White | Spinner |
| Reuben Wilson | Bowler |
| Craig Young | Fast Bowler |
The role descriptions are general classifications; individual players may perform different roles in different formats.
Ireland Cricket Team 2026: New Players and Roles
Ireland’s latest contract programme includes seven players who earned their first central contracts.
| Player | Role | Significance |
| Ben Calitz | Wicketkeeper-Batter | First central contract |
| Jordan Neill | All-rounder | First central contract |
| Tom Mayes | Fast Bowler | First central contract |
| Tim Tector | Batter | First central contract |
| Cade Carmichael | Batter | First central contract |
| Reuben Wilson | Bowler | First central contract |
| Matthew Hollard | Batter | First central contract |
Ireland Cricket Team Captain 2026: Test, ODI and T20I
Ireland has separate captains for its three international formats. The captaincy structure reflects the different demands of Test cricket and limited-overs cricket.
| Format | Captain | Primary Role |
| Test Cricket | Andrew Balbirnie | Batter |
| ODI Cricket | Paul Stirling | Batter |
| T20 International | Lorcan Tucker | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
Ireland Cricket Team 2026: Overseas Players and Nationality
Ireland’s national team does not recruit overseas players in the same way as franchise leagues such as the IPL.
| Player | Country Represented | Role |
| Paul Stirling | Ireland | Batter |
| Mark Adair | Ireland | Fast Bowler |
| Josh Little | Ireland | Fast Bowler |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland | All-rounder |
| Harry Tector | Ireland | Batter |
| Lorcan Tucker | Ireland | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| George Dockrell | Ireland | All-rounder |
| Gareth Delany | Ireland | All-rounder |
Also, explore: Ireland vs Bangladesh Match scorecard: Complete Highlight details
Ireland Team Players by Role, Batting Position and Bowling Type
Ireland’s squad includes specialist batters, wicketkeepers, pace bowlers, spinners and all-rounders. This balance allows selectors to adapt the team according to pitch conditions, opposition and match format.
| Role | Players |
| Opening Batters | Paul Stirling, Ross Adair |
| Top-order Batters | Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Cade Carmichael |
| Middle-order Batters | Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher, Tim Tector |
| Wicketkeepers | Lorcan Tucker, Stephen Doheny, Ben Calitz |
| All-rounders | Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Andy McBrine |
| Fast Bowlers | Mark Adair, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young |
| Spin Bowlers | Ben White, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine |
| Emerging Players | Jai Moondra, Reuben Wilson, Matthew Hollard |
Player roles may overlap, and selection depends on the format.
Coaching Staff, Head Coach and Support Team
Ireland’s coaching staff is responsible for player development, tactical planning, match preparation, and performance across international formats.
| Position | Name |
| Men’s Head Coach | Gary Wilson |
| Previous Head Coach | Heinrich Malan |
| Governing Body | Cricket Ireland |
Major Achievements, Historic Wins and Records
Ireland has made important progress in international cricket, particularly through memorable performances against established cricketing nations and its development across all three formats.
| Achievement | Details |
| ICC Full Membership | Granted in 2017 |
| First Test Match | Played against Pakistan in 2018 |
| First Test Victory | Defeated Afghanistan in 2024 |
| First Test Win at Stormont | Defeated Zimbabwe in 2024 |
| 2011 ODI World Cup | Defeated England in a memorable group-stage match |
| 2015 ODI World Cup | Defeated the West Indies in the group stage |
| 2026 T20I Cricket | Recorded a historic win over India in the first T20I of their June series |
| Future Objective | Qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup |
Conclusion
The Ireland side in 2026 is a mix of seasoned cricketers and budding talents. Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair and Curtis Campher continue to be major players in the Ireland international cricket arena. The team has various captains for each format; Gary Wilson was appointed as the men’s head coach in June 2026. The five-match ODI series against Namibia, which kicked off in Ireland on 22 October 2026, is an essential stepping stone in preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualification process, giving Ireland a chance to develop momentum and test its players.
Ireland’s strength in depth, nurturing young talents and experience gained in various formats of Test, ODI and T20 level cricket gives a solid ground for the country to grow in the future. The selected squad and playing XI are subject to change between series, however.
FAQs
Andrew Balbirnie is the Test cricket captain of Ireland, Paul Stirling the ODI team captain, and Lorcan Tucker the permanent T20I captain.
In June 2026, Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan was replaced by Gary Wilson.
There are key players to look out for – they are Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher and George Dockrell.
Paul Stirling is the captain, and vice-captain Lorcan Tucker will lead the squad in the five-match ODI series against Namibia.
Also, Read –
Ireland Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
