Ireland Pick Uncapped Leg Spinner Gavin Hoey For Zimbabwe Test

Uncapped leg spinner Gavin Hoey has been included in Ireland's 14-member squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, set to commence on July 25 in Belfast. Gavin Hoey is the only newcomer in the team, alongside the familiar faces who have been part of Ireland's previous red-ball squads. The 22-year-old has been selected based on strong domestic performances across formats. Hoey's wrist spin will be the third slow bowling option in the squad, following veteran Andy McBrine and rookie Matthew Humphreys. The Test match against Zimbabwe will be Ireland's second home game in the longest format. They played their first Test (also their debut) against Pakistan in 2018.

Ireland pick uncapped leg spinner Gavin Hoey for Zimbabwe Test

Uncapped leg spinner Gavin Hoey has been included in Ireland's 14-member squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, set to commence on July 25 in Belfast. Gavin Hoey's wrist spin will be the third slow bowling option in the squad. National selector Andrew White appeared optimistic about choosing the two inexperienced spinners Humphreys and Hoey. The left-arm spinner has had a tough start to international cricket, especially in the longer formats. Gavin Hoey has not yet played for Ireland at the highest level. White supported the youngsters and believed they would perform well.

"Humphreys made his Test debut in Sri Lanka and found the going difficult against good players of spin out in the subcontinent. Hoey is a talented leg spinner, and his ability to spin the ball both ways gives us a strong wicket-taking option. Again, he's a player that's been on the radar for a while and can play across all three formats. But this is an opportunity for him to come into the Test squad and get used to the environment," National selector Andrew White said.

The Irish men's 14-player squad for the Test Match against Zimbabwe at Stormont, Belfast, next week has been announced. The Irish team seeks its first-ever Test win on home soil. A historic test win in Abu Dhabi earlier this year gave Ireland their first-ever victory in only their eighth match. Next week's fixture will be the first Test Match ever played in Northern Ireland and only the second Test Match in Ireland. The inaugural match was against Pakistan in 2018.

Ireland Men's Test Squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe

Andrew Balbirnie (C), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.