shloboe boe
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
Former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Peter Moor, will return to familiar territory after being named in the Ireland squad for their one-off Test match against the Chevrons, scheduled to take place at Queens Sports Club from February 6 to 10.
Moor, who earned eight Test caps for the Chevrons, last played international cricket for Zimbabwe in 2019 before making his Ireland debut in April 2023 during a Test match against Bangladesh.
With Ireland set to play a full series, Moor has only been included for the solitary Test in Bulawayo.
Following the Test, action will shift to Harare for three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is).
Moor and the rest of the Irish Test squad are currently in Dubai for a four-day training camp, which began on Sunday, before travelling to Zimbabwe. The Test squad also features seasoned campaigners such as Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling, among others.
Waringstown Cricket Club and Northern Knights’ Morgan Topping, 25, has earned a maiden call-up to the Test and ODI squads. The right-handed top-order batter, a prolific run-scorer at club level, has established himself in the Northern Knights’ top order in recent seasons.
Pembroke’s Gavin Hoey, who made his international debut in October, has retained his place in the ODI squad and could make his Test debut. Topping and Hoey are the only uncapped players in the Test squad.
In a statement from Cricket Ireland, the national selector, Andrew White, said they were looking forward to a competitive series against the Chevrons and were excited about playing in all three formats.
“After a break since the series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi, it will be great to see us get back into action. Since 2007, there have been some wonderful contests against Zimbabwe and this should be no different. It’s exciting to have all three formats on this tour.
“Morgan Topping gains his first international call-up at senior level, having recovered from the injury that prevented him from making his debut against South Africa last year. He has demonstrated the key attributes needed to perform at international level during recent Wolves and Academy fixtures and we wish him well,” said White.
He added: “It’s going to be exciting to see our two young spinners and the likes of Ross Adair in action alongside the experienced players. Of course, we also have the return of Josh Little, who had a big impact the last time we were in Zimbabwe.
“We also have Gareth Delany and Barry McCarthy returning from injury, while Craig Young misses out on the T20 format on this occasion. It promises to be a very busy cycle ahead — from 2026 to 2028, we will see three white-ball World Cups. However, we have 2025 free from ICC events, allowing us to build towards this key period.”
Ireland have a better record against the Chevrons across all three formats. The two sides have faced each other once in Tests, with Ireland emerging victorious in Belfast last year.
In ODIs, the sides have met 22 times, with Ireland winning 10 matches compared to Zimbabwe’s eight, while one match was tied and three yielded no results.
In 15 T20Is, Ireland have registered eight wins compared to Zimbabwe’s seven.
With the solitary Test scheduled for February 6–10, the white-ball matches are set to begin on February 14th. The remaining two ODIs will take place on February 16 and 18, while the three T20Is are slated for February 22nd, 23rd, and 25th.
Ireland Test Squad:
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Morgan Topping, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
ODI Squad:
Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Morgan Topping, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.
T20I Squad:
Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White.
—@brandon_malvin
