Four uncapped players included as Ireland announce squad for one-off Test against New Zealand

Cricket Ireland (CI) has announced a 14-member squad for their upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand, handing out call-ups to four uncapped players. Reuben Wilson, Jake Egan, Tom Mayes and Liam McCarthy have been announced in the squad, which will be led by Ireland's most capped player in Test cricket, Andy Balbirnie. Balbirnie has played all of Ireland's 12 Tests so far.

Joshua Little, Paul Stirling, Jordan Neil and Barry McCarthy have all been ruled out with injuries. Therefore, Ireland will have to take on the challenge of dealing with the Kiwis with a fairly inexperienced line-up.

Egan, a 32-year-old all-rounder, has been rewarded for his maiden first-class hundred, which came on debut as he helped Strikers beat Raiders in the Emerald Challenge, a few days ago in  Dublin. Opening the batting alongside Cade Carmichael, Egan scored 120 with the help of 12 fours before scoring 18 in the second innings as Strikers chased down 118 with ease and won the game by six wickets.

Meanwhile, Wilson is a 19-year-old medium pacer who has also played a solitary first-class game. He has 12 List A and 13 T20s, claiming 22 and 12 wickets, respectively.

McCarthy is also a medium pacer but has international experience, having played three ODIs and a T20I for Ireland. He has 19 wickets in six first-class games, 58 scalps in 33 List A fixtures and 19 pegs in 35 T20s.

Mayes, the other right-arm medium pacer in the squad, has also represented Ireland in ODIs. His first-class tally is impressive. Mayes, 25, has snared 28 scalps in five games at an average of 20.00. He has 35 List A wickets and 44 poles in 32 T20 fixtures.

Ireland's one-off Test encounter against the Blackcaps will get underway at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast from May 27.

Ireland's squad for one-off Test vs New Zealand 

Andrew Balbirnie (C), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Reuben Wilson, Craig Young