Stirling available for Ireland's second Test in Sri Lanka

Paul Stirling will join Ireland's Test squad in Sri Lanka, and be available for selection for the second Test.

Stirling, who went back to Ireland from Bangladesh after the white-ball leg of the series, and will miss the one-off Test starting on April 4, has become available for Test cricket following alterations in Ireland's schedule. Stirling explained to the Belfast Telegraph last week that he had opted to sit out of Ireland's Test commitments this year to give himself a chance to rest amid a "jam-packed" 2023 schedule, but left scope for his plans to "change or evolve" in the way they now have.

Ireland's tour to Sri Lanka initially consisted of a Test and two ODIs, but the hosts' attempt to get more red-ball experience led to the two ODIs being replaced by an extra Test. Both the Tests will be played in Galle between April 16 and 28.

"Paul was originally set to join the squad in Sri Lanka for the ODI series that was originally planned. However, with those fixtures now converted to a Test match, and the scheduled Bangladesh T20I series in Ireland postponed, he will now have a greater focus on red-ball cricket and will join the Test squad for that second Test," Andrew White, Cricket Ireland's national men's selector, said in a statement.

Stirling, who has played all three Tests Ireland have played to date - all in 2018 and 2019 - is one of Ireland's busiest cricketers, playing in various short-format franchise leagues around the world.

Stirling's presence will certainly add a lot of experience to Ireland's line up. For the Dhaka Test against Bangladesh, their squad has nine uncapped players, of whom three have never played first-class cricket. There are also only four survivors from their last Test.