CURTIS CAMPHER is looking forward to his fifth taste of Test cricket in Abu Dhabi tomorrow and hoping for a first win when Ireland take on Afghanistan at the start of a three-week multi-format tour of the United Arab Emirates.

The 24-year-old made his Test debut in Bangladesh last year but has found himself on the losing side in all four of his matches to date, despite scoring a century in Ireland’s highest total - 492 against Sri Lanka in Galle.

"For me it’s definitely the best form of the game,” all-rounder Campher said. “Tests are the longest and hardest format to play, and they test you in many different ways. It's a pure form of the game.”

He is one of four Ireland centurions: Kevin O’Brien was the first to three figures against Pakistan in the inaugural Test at Malahide in 2018, Lorcan Tucker the next in Bangladesh while Paul Stirling and Campher both achieved the feat in the same innings.

While his century was not enough to prevent the Boys in Green slipping to an agonising innings defeat on the final day in Galle, the roar of delight Campher let rip on reaching his hundred showed just how important that innings of 111 was to him.

“That was just relief, maybe with some joy too,” he said.  “Every cricketer dreams of a Test century or a five-for, so to have one of those under my belt is a great achievement. It will be something that I will be able to look back on with fond memories,”

Ireland’s eighth Test since being elevated to ICC Full Member status in 2017 probably offers their best chance of a first win, with the hosts’ star spinner Rashid Khan still recovering from a back operation and fellow nemesis Mohammad Nabi also missing.

After the five-day match, the teams will move up the coast to Sharjah for three one-day internationals followed by three T20s.

“Series like this can be challenging, as it can be quite difficult to switch focus between different formats,” Campher said. “But that’s the reality of international cricket, and the more you tour and play, the easier it becomes in facing those challenges.”

IRELAND (from): Andrew Balbirnie (c), James McCollum, PJ Moor, Harry Tector, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker (w/k), Curtis Campher, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Graham Hume, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young.