Paul Stirling has played in 10 of Ireland's 12 Test matches. Experienced batter Paul Stirling has been ruled out of Ireland's one-off Test against New Zealand at Stormont next week because of a calf injury.

Stirling briefly fielded in this week's Emerald Challenge - a 'best of the best' first-class red-ball fixture for Ireland's men to prepare for the Test. But the 35-year-old was not considered fit enough to bat in the four-day match, and it is anticipated he could be out until the start of July.

Stirling has not batted since he suffered a knee ligament injury in Ireland's defeat by Australia at the T20 World Cup in February. "Paul had a scan yesterday. He has a grade two strain and his return to playing will be determined," Ireland coach Henrich Malan told a news conference.

"He obviously got injured at the World Cup, he's been on a return to play plan and it hasn't necessarily worked out 100% for him with a couple of niggles that's been lingering in and around that knee injury, which was obviously quite severe. Hopefully this one [with his calf] can be rehabbed properly. But it could be a four to five week job to ensure that he's fully fit and ready to go for the rest of the summer."

Leg-spinning all-rounder Gavin Hoey is unavailable because of a side strain, while seamer Barry McCarthy misses out with a knee ligament injury. All-rounder Curtis Campher will play solely as a batter against the Kiwis for the match from 27-30 May.

Around 75% of the tickets have been sold for each of the first two days of the match at Stormont, which will have a capacity of around 1,500 for the fixture. The Test is Ireland's first on home soil since a memorable four-wicket win over Zimbabwe at the same venue in July 2024.

Ireland Test captain Andrew Balbirnie said the match presents a "great opportunity" for his side even though they play Test cricket so infrequently. "Any time you play New Zealand in whatever format, you know, it's going to be tough," he said. "We're not going to put any sort of pressure on our guys. I think we just want them to go out and enjoy the occasion and express themselves and adapt as quickly as they can."

"There will be times we will be under pressure throughout the game. It's just hoping that the guys come out with a positive attitude towards that pressure." This Test will be Ireland's 13th in the format since they were made a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June 2017.

Given their players have had just one warm-up game, Balbirnie acknowledged his side are not really ready when their preparation is "compared to other Test nations". He added: "You can't really beat around the bush there. We've got guys making their first-class debut this week who are going to be arguably playing the Test match next week. That doesn't happen around the world.

There's such isolated fixtures that you just pick on what you see almost on form. We have a good group of cricketers that we know will go out and try to put their best foot forward."

Ireland could get more Test fixtures if they are added to the ICC's World Test Championship as part of a much-discussed revamp of the structure for the longer format by the world governing body. Balbirnie would welcome Ireland's inclusion but said Ireland needs to reestablish a first-class ecosystem - an inter-provincial tournament was last played in 2019 - to support the format.

"It will be naturally very exciting for the group, having guaranteed Test matches, something to work towards," explained the Irish skipper. "And hopefully then a first-class structure is in place for these guys to strive because, ultimately, if we are in WTC, we've got to make sure that our guys are ready to play the Test matches that are on offer."

Ireland Squad: Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Reuben Wilson, Craig Young.

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