Irish batter Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the upcoming one-off Test match against New Zealand due to a calf injury. The match will be held in Belfast over four days, starting May 27.
Stirling was part of the Northern Strikers’ squad for the 2026 Emerald Challenge, a domestic red-ball match prior to the Test. He did make a brief appearance but was not fit enough to bat.
“Paul had a scan yesterday. He has a grade two strain, and his return to play will depend on recovery. After getting injured at the World Cup, he followed a return-to-play plan, but it hasn’t fully worked out due to lingering issues around his previous knee injury. We hope the calf issue can be rehabilitated properly, but it might take four to five weeks to ensure he’s fully ready for the rest of the summer,” said Ireland coach Henrich Malan, via BBC Sport.
Stirling suffered a knee injury during the Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year and has not participated in professional Cricket since. He also stepped down as Ireland’s T20I captain after a disappointing World Cup, but he will continue to lead in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
His absence will be felt as Ireland faces New Zealand for the first time in Test history. Stirling has scored 521 runs in 10 Test matches, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer for his country.
Andrew Balbirnie will captain Ireland against New Zealand. Of the 12 Test matches he has played, he has led in nine.