Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie speaking at Wednesday's pre-Test match press conference:

“For a lot of our Test cricket over the years there hasn’t been a whole lot of preparation in terms of first class matches but the guys have gone in with a pretty clear mindset and a good skill set so I’m hoping the work we have done over the past two or three weeks, which has been really good, can prepare us as best as possible for this week.

“We want to give our guys a bit of freedom in how they play. We want our guys to play in a certain way, one that produces a result for us but also encourages people just to enjoy themselves and to want to strive to play at this level.

“So that’s always been our message as a group, whatever format we play. We get to showcase our skills around the world but it’s extra special at home in front of people who don’t get to see us play that often.

“Being captain of the team in my own country, it’s going to be pretty special with friends and family there. There is a lot of pride there and I think there will be a lot of emotion, especially with the local lads. I think enjoyment will be the main thing of the week."

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Paul Stirling says Ireland's Test match at Stormont against Zimbabwe which starts on Thursday will fulfil a dream he had in his back garden in Belfast as a 12-year-old.

This week's contest will be the first time the Belfast ground has hosted a Test match.

It will be only the second occasion a Test has taken place on the island of Ireland and Irish cricket has a real sense of expectancy after the men's side clinched their first victory in cricket's long format at the eighth attempt when beating Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in March.

"I dreamed as a 12-year-old in the back garden thinking you were going to play Test cricket and Stormont would have been the place," said a reflective Stirling on Tuesday.

"To get out there and finally do it…..yeah it’s a real special occasion for myself and everyone involved with Irish cricket."

Read more of what Paul Stirling had to say about the first Test match to be played in Northern Ireland here, external.

Image source, Inpho

Irish skipper Andrew Balbirnie has won the toss and not surprisngly has decided to bowl first.

The cloud cover should offer the Ireland attack plenty of opportunities for early wickets.

Lord's, MCG, Newlands, Kensington Oval....Stormont!

It does not quite trip off the tongue but the little Belfast venue is set to create a big slice of cricket history by hosting the first Test match in Northern Ireland.

Andrew White hails from Northern Ireland and he won 232 caps in a 14-year international career which ended in 2014.

"As a former player it's very exciting and I suppose going back 10-15 years we never believed it would happen," said the Ireland men's selector.

"But I know the players themselves, having spoken to them over the last couple of weeks, are very excited, especially the northern contingent.

"The likes of Mark Adair and Paul Stirling - these guys have played a lot of cricket in Belfast and this is a big one for them."

Read more here

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Ireland paceman Josh Little is "passionate" about Test cricket and will definitely play the format for Ireland in the future.

Little has yet to make an appearance in the longer format for Ireland and again sits out this Test.

He has prioritised white-ball cricket in his career so far and has become a regular on the global franchise circuit, including the lucrative Indian Premier League.

"I sort of blocked off this [next] two years as pretty busy franchise-wise, and then after that I’ll be putting an eye on Test cricket," Little told BBC Sport.

"It’s definitely something I want to do, something I’m passionate about doing. I can guarantee I will play Test cricket at some stage.

"I love playing for Ireland, but equally franchise opportunities may not come around forever. It’s tough at times. Cricket Ireland have been nothing but accommodating. Sometimes it is a balancing act."

Read more here

Image source, Inpho

Ireland earned their first men's Test victory by beating Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi four months ago.

Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in their second innings to leave Ireland with a victory target of 111.

The Irish were wobbling on 39-4 before captain Andrew Balbirnie steered his side home with an unbeaten 58.

Ireland claimed a maiden five-day win in their eighth Test outing.

Read more here

Image source, ABC

Alvin McCaig
BBC Sport NI at Stormont

We had a few drops of rain five minutes ago but it's looking a bit clearer now and hopefully we'll get under way on schedule.

The players are warming up on an immaculate Stormont surface and there's a decent crowd in already as the countdown continues to the first Test match in Northern Ireland.

We'll have the toss and team news in 10 minutes.

Stormont groundsman Phil McCormick tells BBC Sport NI about preparing the pitch at the east Belfast venue for the historic first Test match ever to be held in Northern Ireland from 25 to 29 July.

Ireland will host Zimbabwe over the five-day red ball format.

Phil, who has waited 28 years for such an opportunity, explains that the preparations have been going on for months.

Ireland have handed a first call-up to spinner Gavin Hoey for this week's Test.

The 22-year-old Leinster Lighting bowler comes into the squad along with Matthew Humphreys, who returns to the squad after making his Test debut against Sri Lanka last year.

Zimbabwe have included uncapped quartet Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, Joylord Gumbie and Johnathan Campbell in their squad.

Wicketkeeper-batters Madande and Gumbie have been called up along with all-rounders Bennett and Campbell.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland and Zimbabwe have never met in a Test match and indeed this encounter with the Irish represents Zimbabwe's first Test in Europe since 2003.

Their only Test action since 2021 was a two-match series with the West Indies last February, which they lost 1-0.

Ireland are six years into their Test journey, having faced Pakistan at Malahide in 2018 in their first-ever fixture in the red ball format.

Unpredictable weather, financial constraints and the Covid-19 pandemic have all played a part in Ireland's inaction on the Test arena since then, the Irish squad having played just eight matches in subsequent years.

Despite that, wicketkeeper/batter Lorcan Tucker and all-rounder Curtis Campher have notched up Test centuries.

Ireland are coming off a poor T20 World Cup which included a shock defeat at the hands of Canada.

The landmark day has arrived as Northern Ireland hosts a Test match for the first time.

It's also just Ireland's second Test on home soil after making their five-day debut at Malahide in 2018.

Ireland lost their opening seven Tests but notched up a victory at the eighth attempt by beating Afghanistan in March.

Zimbabwe are one place above the hosts in the Test standings but they have to go back to 2021 for their last Test win.

It promises to be a tight encounter in east Belfast as Stormont becomes the 123rd ground to stage a men's Test.

It's an historic occasion and we'll bring you text commentary and video clips of the best action from the middle.

Thanks for joining us.

Image source, Getty Images