Ireland face hosts Sri Lanka in their T20 World Cup opener in Colombo on 8 February
Significant year ahead for Irish cricket both on and off the field
Although Ireland concluded 2025 in Bangladesh seemingly running out of energy, this year will be remembered mainly for the men’s team being unfairly evaluated. The team participated in only three Test matches, securing a victory against Zimbabwe in February while suffering two defeats to Bangladesh in November, all of which took place away from home. Additionally, efforts to gain momentum for the 2026 T20 World Cup were hindered, as only seven out of 12 planned T20 internationals yielded a result. Among these, three matches—two versus West Indies and one against England—were canceled without a single ball being bowled. Evaluating performance from such a limited sample size—especially considering the significance of interprovincial matches—has proven difficult for Heinrich Malan’s team, further complicated by injuries to bowlers during England’s visit to Malahide in September. In late January, Ireland will engage in five World Cup warm-up matches in Dubai, competing against Italy three times and the UAE twice within just eight days. It is hoped that players like Mark Adair and Josh Little can regain their form during these games to enhance the seam attack for the tournament, which starts with Ireland facing hosts Sri Lanka on 8 February. Can Tim Tector maintain his push to partner with Stirling as an opener? What about Ben Calitz, who seeks to secure his role in the middle order? How will Ross Adair fit back into the team upon his return from injury? There’s a feeling that, after such limited action in 2025, Ireland is somewhat behind in determining their optimal lineup. Aside from 2022, this tournament has never been a strong suit for Ireland, and being grouped with Australia, Zimbabwe, Oman, and Sri Lanka, reaching the super eights would be considered a commendable performance this time. Including the warm-ups, there will be at least nine matches over 25 days, providing a chance to build essential momentum with bat and ball, as well as in the media spotlight. However, concerns remain about the uncertainty regarding future plans. It has already been indicated that Ireland’s home summer will feature more cricket this year, yet there’s limited time left to finalize dates, venues, and opponents to fully capitalize on the exposure during the World Cup.
Published: 2025-12-31 19:20:00
source: www.bbc.com
