Paul Stirling has put the seal on one long-term relationship this month but he will be taking an agreed break from another when he leads out Ireland against South Africa in Abu Dhabi tomorrow in the first of two ‘home’ T20 internationals.
After marrying girlfriend Sara in Spain, with former colleague Eoin Morgan as best man, the 34-year-old white-ball captain finds himself without long-term opening partner Andy Balbirnie for the two T20s before the former skipper returns for the ODI series that follows.
Stirling, who has played with Balbirnie since the two were in Ireland under-age groups, is at pains to stress that it’s very much a trial separation, and his mate will return to the top of the order in the near future.
“It’s definitely not a being dropped scenario — 100 per cent,” Stirling said. “Bal’s done really well for us in T20s but we felt this was a good opportunity to try some new blood, some new players, and new systems.
“We’re as far out from any World Cup as we have been for many years, so it’s a good chance for us to see what different players can offer. Bal is very understanding of what we’re looking to do.”
The Boys in Green could slip Ross Adair in to open and keep the rest of the order as settled, but the more likely option which coach Heinrich Malan has confirmed will be tried in the first game, is for wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker to partner Stirling.
Harry Tector would move up to three from four, with Mark Adair’s in-form brother as a top-six floater, or finisher, depending on the state of play.
One thing for sure is that Stirling himself will be one of the openers despite a year where he hasn’t hit his usual high standards, or improved a worrying sequence of only four half-centuries in his last 51 T20 innings.
“I’m not absolutely set in my ways, and what unfolds will unfold, but at the moment I still really like it up the top, with the new ball,
“I try my best every time I pull on the shirt, and I’ve been around long enough now to know that you go through dips. It’s been a big year for T20s, and we’ve been trying to take down some of the best bowlers in the world.
“I’m not a great one for stats but when I get to the back end of each year I do look back at what I’ve done annually January to January, and this year I’ll probably say that I could have scored more runs.”
The chance to improve that recent form comes first against a South African side that is an experimental mix of established stars and new faces, and who lost their one-day international series against Afghanistan earlier this month.