Ireland's Ed Joyce & Tim Murtagh quit Twenty20 internationals

Ireland, who currently play one-day and T20 cricket, want to be granted Test status

Ireland duo Ed Joyce and Tim Murtagh have announced their retirement from international T20 cricket.

Sussex batsman and captain Joyce and Middlesex bowler Murtagh said they want to concentrate on first-class and one-day cricket.

Joyce, 36, has the highest T20 batting average in Ireland history - 33.75 in 18 internationals.

He played in the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and the 2014 tournament in Bangladesh.

"With potentially more ODIs in the next few years and the possibility of Test cricket in the near future as well, I feel would be able to contribute more in these formats if I stopped playing Twenty20," said Joyce, from Bray.

Murtagh, 33, said: "There is such a busy schedule these days, with a lot of cricket coming up for Ireland and Middlesex.

"I have been hugely grateful to have been given the chance to play T20 international cricket for Ireland and I am certainly looking forward to hopefully playing many more games in the other formats."

Ireland chairman of selectors Alan Lewis said: "The heartening piece for us is their total commitment to the longer formats and ultimately our desire to play Test cricket in the future.

"When you consider their county commitments as well, their decisions are fully understandable."

Ireland will announce their squads for the T20 series against Scotland and the World Twenty20 qualifiers on Friday.