The squads have been named for next week’s Emerald Challenge four-day game at Malahide and the selectors have split the teams into a North (Strikers) v South (Raiders) contest for what is the Ireland players only red-ball action ahead of the sole Test match against New Zealand, at Stormont, starting on Wednesday May 27.

Test captain Andrew Balbirnie leads the South side, of course, but the selectors have given the captaincy of the North team to this year’s Knights skipper Matthew Humphreys, ahead of the more experienced Paul Stirling or Andy McBrine.

Squads of 13 have been named which will leave four players on drinks duties for the duration although the extended squads are to cover for any more injuries picked up before the game starts on Monday.

Barry McCarthy is the biggest doubt, having injured his knee when bowling for Pembroke in last Saturday’s Irish Cup game at Waringstown and the results of a scan will determine his availability, with Jai Moondra the likely replacement.

Josh Little, who has announced his intention to belatedly begin his Test career is the most notable absentee, but he could not be considered as he is currently on the injured list.

The one injury on the North side is Sam Topping who hasn’t played since the opening day of the season but he was planning to play for Waringstown last weekend but “advised” by Cricket Ireland to sit out the big game. We now know the reason why, and although Ben Calitz is keeping wicket for Lisburn, Topping will wear the gloves for the North who will be coached by Ireland batting coach Gary Wilson.

Despite the intentional North-South divide, both teams have seven Test players and of the eight uncapped players chosen, there are four in each squad – Cian Robertson, Morgan and Sam Topping and Josh Wilson on the North and Chris de Freitas, Matthew Hollard, Moondra and Reuben Wilson in the South, who will be coached by Ireland spin bowling coach Chris Brown.

Apart from Little, the other contracted players missing out are Ross Adair, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell and Ben White.
Play at Malahide starts each day at 10.45am and entry is free. There will be no live stream.

STRIKERS
Head Coach: Gary Wilson 
The core squad is:
Matthew Humphreys (c) (Instonians)
Mark Adair (Lisburn)
Ben Calitz (Lisburn)
Cade Carmichael (Instsonians)
Tom Mayes (Waringstown)
Andy McBrine (Donemana)
Jordan Neill (CSNI)
Cian Robertson (Instonians)
Paul Stirling
Morgan Topping (Waringstown)
Sam Topping (Waringstown)
Josh Wilson (Newbuildings)
Craig Young (North Down)

RAIDERS
Head Coach: Chris Brown

The core squad is:
Andrew Balbirnie (c) (Pembroke)
Curtis Campher (Clontarf)
Chris Defreitas (Balbriggan)
Stephen Doheny (Merrion)
Gavin Hoey (Pembroke)
Matthew Hollard (Balbriggan)
Barry McCarthy (Pembroke)
Liam McCarthy (Railway Union)
Jai Moondra (Leinster)
Harry Tector (Pembroke)
Tim Tector (Pembroke)
Loran Tucker (Pembroke)
Rueben Wilson (Clontarf)