Ross Adair will join brother Mark in the Ireland squad in Zimbabwe, while Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector have been granted permission by Cricket Ireland to play in T20 franchise tournaments.

Adair, 28, is the brother of current Irish international, Mark Adair – if selected to play, it will make the pair the first set of brothers to play for Ireland in an international since Niall and Kevin O’Brien in the Test match at Malahide in 2018.

Before turning seriously to cricket, Adair - a right-handed batter and left-arm spinner - had forged a professional rugby union career and appeared for Ulster in the Pro12 competition in the 2014-15 season.

He first appeared for the Northern Knights in a T20 match in August 2020. His last inter-provincial match was in July 2022 when he struck 111 from 49 balls and claimed 1-28 demonstrating his all-round talent.

Adair’s first international call-up comes after Cricket Ireland signed a No Objection Certificate to permit Lorcan Tucker to miss the T20 matches of the upcoming Zimbabwe tour next month to play in the Abu Dhabi International League T20 (Paul Stirling has also been granted permission to participate in the league). Tucker will still play for Ireland in the one-day internationals against Zimbabwe.

Also granted permission to play in an upcoming franchise cricket opportunity is Harry Tector, who will feature in the new Nepal T20. However, Tector will join up with the Irish squad ahead of the Zimbabwe fixtures and not miss any international matches.

 

Andrew White, National Selector, said: “Given the extremely busy year ahead, we have taken advantage of this circumstance to bring in Ross Adair for his first international call up. 

"He has successfully adopted a dynamic and positive style of play in T20 cricket that reflects the philosophy that Heinrich and his staff have been instilling in our white-ball squads. We believe he has displayed the talent, skill and mindset that will hopefully see him make the step up successfully."

Ross Adair said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the call up, but I’m not sure it’s really sunk in yet if I’m honest. It’s a huge honour for me and now I just can’t wait to get away on tour.

“I have always wanted to push myself and get to as high a level as possible. I love my cricket and to have the opportunity to potentially represent Ireland at the highest level with Mark, would mean the world to me.”

Andrew White added: “The Selectors have recognised the development opportunity for Lorcan Tucker in taking up the franchise T20 tournament opportunity next month given the location and quality of players involved. While he had previously been named in the Irish squad for the Zimbabwe tour, we considered that the chance opportunity for Lorcan to play in the UAE franchise league would give him an experience that could greatly benefit his game, while allowing us an opportunity to expand our international talent pool. 

IRELAND TOUR OF ZIMBABWE

The tour will feature three T20 Internationals, followed by three one-day internationals. All matches will be played at Harare Sports Club. 

T20s - 12, 14, 15 January.

ODIs - 18, 20, 23 January.

T20I squad:

  • Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Tyrone Kane, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Ben White

ODI squad:

  • Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Graham Hume, Tyrone Kane, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker.