Ireland Name 14-Man Squad for England T20I Series, Calitz Earns Maiden Call-Up

Ireland Name 14-Man Squad for England T20I Series, Calitz Earns Maiden Call-Up

Ireland have announced a 14-man squad for their upcoming three-match T20I series against England at Malahide, scheduled for September 17, 19, and 21. The series will mark the first time Ireland hosts England in the shortest format, and excitement is already building, with the opening fixture on Sunday confirmed as a sell-out.

Among the notable headlines is the inclusion of 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Ben Calitz, who has earned his maiden call-up to the senior national side. Calitz, born in Vancouver, Canada, moved to Ireland in 2022 and has since impressed in the Inter-Provincial Series and with Ireland Wolves on their UAE tour earlier this year.

However, Ireland will be without their two senior fast bowlers, Josh Little and Mark Adair. Little, who has been struggling with a side strain aggravated during his stint with Middlesex in the One-Day Cup, has only played one competitive match since July. Adair recently underwent knee surgery in August and is being managed carefully with an eye on the upcoming Test tour of Bangladesh in November.

Ireland's selector Andrew White acknowledged the absences but emphasized the opportunity the series presents:

“While every match against England is a special occasion, this series takes on extra importance given we are less than six months out from the next T20 World Cup. These matches allow us to test ourselves against one of the world's best sides.”

White also highlighted the inclusion of Calitz as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the middle order and develop left-handed batting options. Jordan Neill also returns to the squad, replacing Adair as he did during the West Indies ODI series earlier this summer before injury halted his debut campaign.

The squad also welcomes back Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, and Craig Young, all of whom have recovered from injuries and proved their fitness during the recent Emerald Challenge series.

England to Tour With New-Look Side

Ireland will face an England side captained by 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, fresh from scoring his maiden professional century against South Africa. England's squad is expected to miss several senior players who are being rested ahead of their Ashes tour of Australia later this year.

Despite the youthful English side, the series forms a crucial part of Ireland's build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, with many players looking to stake their claim for selection.

“We are set to play as many T20I matches in the next five months as we have already played in this cycle,” White added. “We'll transition to Asian and Middle East venues to better prepare the squad for the conditions they'll face on the subcontinent.”

Ireland’s 14-Man Squad:

  • Paul Stirling (capt)

  • Ross Adair

  • Ben Calitz

  • Curtis Campher

  • Gareth Delany

  • George Dockrell

  • Graham Hume

  • Matthew Humphreys

  • Barry McCarthy

  • Jordan Neill

  • Harry Tector

  • Lorcan Tucker

  • Ben White

  • Craig Young

Ireland vs England – T20I Series Schedule:

  • 1st T20I – September 17, Malahide

  • 2nd T20I – September 19, Malahide

  • 3rd T20I – September 21, Malahide

Ireland have only played England twice before in T20Is: a wash-out in the 2010 T20 World Cup and a famous five-run victory at the 2022 edition in Melbourne — a tournament England would go on to win.