Ireland in Bangladesh 2007-08

Stirling picked for Bangladesh tour

Cricinfo staff

February 13, 2008

The 17-year-old Cliftonville batsman, Paul Stirling, has been called into the Ireland squad for next month's tour of Bangladesh, as a replacement for the regular opener, Jeremy Bray, who has pulled out with a shoulder injury.

Stirling is currently in Malaysia with Ireland's Under-19 World Cup squad, and secured his promotion with a quickfire 72 in Wednesday's 181-run defeat against New Zealand.

Trent Johnston has once again been named captain, and the squad boasts plenty experience with all four of Ireland's county-based players - Eion Morgan, Boyd Rankin, Niall O'Brien and Will Porterfield - available to tour. Porterfield has been named as vice-captain, taking over from Kyle McCallan.

The only other notable absentee is Andrew White, who is getting married in March. Two left-arm seamers, Phil Eaglestone and Reinhardt Strydom, have also been picked in a 15-man squad.

Ireland's tour will begin with a four-day game against UAE in Abu Dhabi from March 6, and their three-match ODI series will commence in Bangladesh on March 18. There is also a match lined up against Essex, who will be conducting a pre-season tour at the same time.

Ireland squad Trent Johnston, Andre Botha, A Cusack, Phil Eaglestone, T Fourie, G Kidd, Kyle McCallan, Eion Morgan, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Will Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom, G Thompson.

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