Ross Adair’s winter has taken an unwelcome turn. Ireland’s powerful opener has been diagnosed with a bone-stress issue in his right knee and will sit out the three T20s in Bangladesh later this month. Jordan Neill, already pencilled in for the two Tests, has been told to hang around and take Adair’s spot in the white-ball squad.
Adair, 31, looked set for a decent run at the top of the order after a 58-ball century against South Africa last year. A handful of useful contributions followed in 2025 – 48 versus West Indies, 26 and 33 against England – but his body keeps interrupting the story. Medical staff expect him to be back in time for the build-up to next year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.
Neill’s own route has hardly been smooth. The 24-year-old all-rounder made an encouraging debut in May, only to damage an ankle in the deep and miss a chunk of the home summer. Now he gets an extended audition in Asia – a decent place, coaches say, to test skills under heat, low bounce and loud crowds.
National selector Andrew White laid out the logic for the reshuffle. “It’s very unfortunate to have lost Ross on the eve of the Bangladesh tour, he really demonstrated his value at the top of the T20I order during the few chances he had in 2025, and we were looking forward to seeing him perform against Bangladesh,” White said. “There are a couple of combinations that we are keen to explore as we build up to next year’s T20 World Cup. Jordan Neill will stay on as part of the T20I squad to provide valuable cover to the wider group. We have players that in the past showed they are capable of deputising at the top of the order – this allows us to adjust the batting line-up and create greater flexibility through the middle and late overs. The left-handed Ben Calitz coming into the middle order will provide us with the variety we have struggled with over recent years – and this tour gives us a much-needed opportunity to see how a number of players adapt to different situations and conditions.”
So, Ireland shuffle again. Paul Stirling remains the senior pro at the top, while Harry Tector could be nudged up if needed. Calitz, a clean-striking south-paw, offers a different angle against Bangladesh’s off-spinners.
Ireland start with the first Test in Sylhet on 11 November and move to Dhaka for the second from 19 November. The T20Is follow on 27, 29 November and 1 December – all under lights in Mirpur – where humidity, slower pitches and a partisan crowd will test Neill’s adjustment skills, and give the think-tank another look at life without Adair.
