Ben Calitz, the 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, has been drafted into Ireland’s 14-man squad for this month’s three T20 internationals against England at Malahide. The Vancouver-born left-hander is the only uncapped player selected by Paul Stirling, who continues as stand-in captain while regular skipper Andrew Balbirnie focuses on red-ball preparation.
Calitz, who moved to Limerick in 2022, has impressed for Munster Reds and, more recently, Northern Knights in the Inter-Provincial Series. A solid showing on the Ireland Wolves tour to the UAE last April nudged him further into the selectors’ thoughts, and with a World Cup less than six months away the panel clearly felt now was the right moment to have a look.
There is change elsewhere too, though not all of it by design. First-choice seamers Josh Little and Mark Adair both miss out through injury. Little aggravated a lingering side strain during Middlesex’s One-Day Cup campaign and has played only once since July. Adair underwent knee surgery in August; the medical team still hope he will be ready for November’s Test trip to Bangladesh.
Fionn Hand, another fast-bowling option, is also on the treatment table. In their absence Craig Young, Curtis Campher and Gareth Delany return after proving fitness in the recent Emerald Challenge series, while Jordan Neill comes in as cover for Adair.
Squad in full
Paul Stirling (capt), Ben Calitz (wk), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Andy McBrine, Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, Craig Young, Barry McCarthy, Graham Hume, Jordan Neill, Ross Adair, Neil Rock.
The matches – scheduled for 17, 19 and 21 September – double as key preparation for next February’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. England, led for the first time by 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, travel without several Ashes-bound regulars but will still provide a stern test. The Sunday fixture has already sold out; the other two are heading that way.
“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,” national selector Andrew White said. “These matches against England offer us an opportunity to test ourselves against one of the world’s best teams as we build-up to that tournament.
“As it stands, we are set to play as many T20I matches in the next five months as we have already played in this cycle to date, but we’ll transition to Asian and Middle East venues to better prepare the squad for conditions they will likely face on the subcontinent.
“While it’s unfortunate that Mark [Adair], Fionn [Hand] and Josh [Little] are not available, this series will give several other members of the bowling group the chance to step up and challenge for World Cup spots.
“While we have excellent cover at the top of the order, it is the middle-order batting where we are looking to increase our depth. As part of this focus, we welcome Ben Calitz into the squad – who gives us a left-handed batting option, as well as wicket-keeping cover – and Jordan Neill returns as cover for Mark Adair, as he did in the West Indies ODI series earlier this summer before injury cut his debut short.”
Calitz himself sounded both relaxed and excited when contacted by Cricket Ireland. “It’s a bit surreal, to be honest,” he admitted. “I’ve only been here a couple of years, and now I could be keeping wicket against England. I just want to stick to what’s worked for me with Reds and Knights and enjoy the moment.”
The forthcoming series will be the first time Ireland have hosted England in men’s T20Is. The sides have met only twice before in the format: a rain-ruined group game at the 2010 World T20 in Guyana and England’s 42-run win on Duckworth–Lewis at the 2021 tournament in Abu Dhabi.
Analysis – opportunities in the margins
Little and Adair carry most of Ireland’s power-play threat, so their absence shifts responsibility towards Young and Campher. Young is a seasoned campaigner, capable of hitting the pitch hard and bowling a heavy ball, yet has played only sporadically since last autumn’s knee problem. Campher’s deceptive pace and knack of striking early will be needed.
With the bat, Stirling and Balbirnie (should he return later in the series) give Ireland security up top, but recent T20I totals have stalled once the field spreads. That explains the Calitz gamble and the continued faith in Delany, whose leg-spin also offers variation on what can be slow September pitches in Dublin.
England’s second-string feel
Bethell’s elevation gives England a fresh look. The Barbados-born left-hander scored his maiden professional hundred against South Africa last week and strikes the ball cleanly. Without Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow or Mark Wood, England’s attack is lighter on pace but heavy on spin – good news for Ireland’s seamers, less so for their middle order.
Still, Ireland will not get a better dress rehearsal before boarding flights east in the new year. A competitive showing, perhaps even a win, would tighten selection calls and lift confidence. Lose heavily, and questions around depth, especially with the ball, will linger.
Either way, three full houses at Malahide and prime-time television slots show that, even in a crowded calendar, Ireland v England remains a fixture worth tuning in for.
