Ireland series against South Africa 'start of a new cycle'

With the future in mind Andrew Balbirnie has been omitted from the T20 squad

Ireland regard the forthcoming ODI and T20 series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi as "the start of a new cycle", says national selector Andrew White.

The squads chosen for the two T20 internationals and three one-day matches have a mostly familiar look about them, but White says the matches will be used to experiment with selections and playing combinations.

The series marks a return to white-ball cricket for the Irish team for the first time since the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies in June.

White said "2026 and 2027 are pivotal years for our white-ball squads – those years being the next T20 and 50-over World Cups respectively".

And he added: "Given their timeframes, it means we are looking at this upcoming series against South Africa as the start of a new cycle.

"With that in mind, there are a number of selections and playing combinations that we will look at – albeit a number of uncapped players that were actively being considered – such as Morgan Topping and Liam McCarthy – who are still nursing injuries at present and were not able to be considered."

'Introducing a new dynamic' as Balbirnie left out of T20 squad

Leg-spinner Gavin Hoey has impressed for Leinster Lightning

Former captain Andrew Balbirnie has been omitted from the T20 squad as Ireland tweak the top end of their batting order for that format of the game.

"One area we will explore on this tour is the top order in our T20 squad," said White. "We'll be looking at introducing a new dynamic, with Andrew Balbirnie sitting out the T20Is on this occasion.

"There are only two T20Is in the upcoming series, but they will offer important opportunities as we try to increase our levels of performance again. Andrew remains very much central to our thoughts and will open the batting in the ODIs."

Uncapped leg spinner Gavin Hoey is named in the 15-strong ODI group after being selected in the squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in late July.

"The Ireland Emerging and Wolves tours over the last 18 months have been invaluable to the players but also in terms of our succession planning," explained White.

"We need to deepen our pool of international cricketers and for the likes of Gavin Hoey, he will come into the international arena with greater confidence following his involvement in such fixtures and this is hugely important.

"The volume of international fixtures leading into 2027 is exciting and there will be opportunities for players to make their mark."

Ireland will face South Africa in T20Is on 27 and 29 September, followed by ODIs on 2, 4 and 7 October.