First test between NZ and Ireland

Daryl Mitchell. PHOTO: ODT FILES

New Zealand get a busy period of test cricket under way with a historic match against Ireland in Belfast tonight.

The two nations have never met in a test.

Ireland have only played a dozen games since they were granted test status in June 2017.

They did not have to wait 26 years for a maiden victory in the format like New Zealand, though.

They have three wins. Perhaps the most notable was a 63-run win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in February 2025.

The one-off test is a four-day game, and Black Caps middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell is looking forward to getting back into the rhythm of red-ball cricket following a heavy diet of limited-overs cricket.

The Black Caps, who have not played a test since December, have selected a large contingent of ‘‘nasty fasties’’ who can expect some help from the conditions.

‘‘It’s cool to see, I guess, the bowling depth that we have built as a test group and yeah, with the Duke [ball] I guess in this part of the world the ball can obviously help fast bowlers,’’ Mitchell said.

‘‘But I’ve only played white-ball cricket [in Ireland], so I guess we’ll be understanding what the nets and stuff look like over the next couple of days and come out with a plan for out in the middle.

‘‘But, yeah, just looking forward to playing test cricket here in Ireland and it should be good fun.’’

The Black Caps have a lot of test cricket ahead during the next 10 months. They play three tests against England in England next month, which will be a big challenge, and

are also looking forward to a four-test away series against Australia.

The Black Caps have only posted three test wins on Australian soil and the last was back in 2011.

They are also hosting India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan during the home summer.

‘‘It’s exciting to get back into test cricket — it’s something personally I really love,’’ Mitchell said.

‘‘And I guess to have played a lot of T20 cricket over the last sort of six months, with a T20 World Cup and a little bit of franchise stuff on the side there as well, it’s been a busy few months.

The 19-strong New Zealand squad includes Kristian Clarke, Michael Rae and Will Young, who have been selected just for the Ireland game, while fast bowler Ben Sears will remain with the squad following the test against Ireland as bowling cover.

The Irish team includes batter Lorcan Tucker, who is the country’s leading scorer in the format (703 runs at 43.93), and Andy McBrine, who was named player of the match in the 63-run win over Zimbabwe.

adrian.seconi@odt.co.nz

Black Caps v Ireland

Belfast, 10pm (NZ time)

Black Caps extended squad: Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Kristian Clarke, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

Ireland: Andy Balbirnie (captain), Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Jake Egan, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Andy McBrine, Matthew Humphreys, Thomas Mayes, Liam McCarthy, Reuben Wilson, Craig Young