Just nine days after making his first class debut, Jake Egan could be catapulted into a Test match debut after he was named in the 14-man squad for next week’s four-day clash with New Zealand at Stormont.

Egan is one of two uncapped players named – the other is U19 international pace bowler Reuben Wilson – although Tom Mayes and Liam McCarthy are also in competition for a Test debut.

It is the 22 year old Australian, however, who caught the eye in this week’s Emerald Challenge - the players’ only red-ball action before the Test match – with a first innings century and although he was only playing in the match because of an injury to  Sam Topping, the selectors couldn’t ignore it.

Head coach Heinrich Malan, after announcing the squad, said Egan’s inclusion was “reward for his fantastic performance”.

He  went on: “Jake has been on the radar and while it’s unfortunate players are unavailable, it creates opportunities and he came in on the back of what we know he can potentially do.”

Interestingly, captain Andrew Balbirnie, sitting alongside Malan at the press conference, said that Egan was not on the radar but because of Ireland’s unique situation, it was not a surprise he was selected.

“We have guys playing first class debuts (this week) who are going to be playing in the Test match next week. That’s not going to happen in other countries. You are picking on what you see on form.  

“Jake Egan’s selection, a guy who is not on the radar, but a guy who showed he was on form in the first class format so we have a game next week so why wouldn’t he be selected.”

There is no shortage of opening partners for Balbirnie next week with Cade Carmichael and Stephen  Doheny also in the squad and the captain could equally have been talking about Reuben Wilson, another first class debutant who impressed in the Challenge match.

“I was really impressed with his control and skillset, without a lot of red ball cricket behind him. We know what he did in the U19 World Cup and having faced him in the nets a number of times, he tests your defence and that is key in Test cricket," said Balbirnie.

“He is still very young, it was his first class debut this week so it’s exciting for him and it’s his first senior call-up in any format. There might be an opportunity for him to play in the Test match.”

As expected, Ireland’s most experienced player, Paul Stirling is not available – he walked off after just two overs in the Emerald Challenge - with scans on Thursday confirming he has a Grade 2 calf strain and Malan said it could take four to five weeks before he completes his return to play plan.

That sounds as if the two India T20s are a target but the timeline suggests it is by no means a certainty he will be ready to face the world champions on June 26 and 28.

The other players not considered and name checked by Malan were Gavin Hoey, who has a side strain and was getting a scan on Friday, Josh Little, who has a stress fracture of his ribs, Jordan Neill, who has a shoulder muscle tear and Barry McCarthy who has a left knee ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Sam Topping was due to play in the Emerald Challenge but as he is not a contracted player, he wasn’t mentioned in dispatches.

The Head coach also confirmed that Curtis Campher is still following return to bowl protocols and will play as a batsman only in the Test match, which could mean, if Ireland opt for a four-seamer attack, there is room for both Mayes and Wilson to make their Test debuts.

As for the match itself, Ireland’s 13th Test and their second at home in succession at Stormont, Balbirnie accepts it will be a huge test.

“New Zealand are one of the best all round teams in the world in all three formats. We just want our guys to go out and express themselves and enjoy ourselves and it will be exciting to see how the couple of new guys adapt," he said.

“We will try and go out and play good cricket and we have done that over the years. We know next week will be a big step up but we just have to throw as many punches as we can  over the four days."

It was also revealed that more than 1,000 tickets have been sold for the first two days – the capacity for the Test will be 1,500 – but, not surprisingly, plenty are still available for the other two days with the public waiting to see the state of the game and even the weather, although the first two days are forecast to be hot and sunny.