Gary Wilson is faced with a tricky decision in Windhoek this week: when does he bring Mark Adair back into the fold after omitting his star all-rounder from the first two games of Ireland’s five-match one-day international series against Namibia?

Adair was seen to verbally clash with the new head coach prior to the final ODI of the summer against Afghanistan in Belfast and while Cricket Ireland have not admitted as much it would seem he is now serving a ban of indeterminant length for disciplinary reasons.

“Gary Wilson is bringing his own approach to the role of head coach and establishing the culture, expectations and standards within the group. This is about setting out clearly how he wants the team to operate and develop going forwards,” is the official word.

“We know Mark’s capabilities on the pitch so he has other objectives that he is focusing on — he may or may not play during the tour.”

While Ireland barely missed him during a 55-run victory over Namibia in the opener on Thursday, the lack of Adair’s experience with the ball at the end of a white-ball innings was highlighted on Saturday when the home side plundered 63 runs from their final four overs.

All things being equal Adair would have bowled two of those overs and his variations and nous would have stood a better chance of combatting Namibia captain Gerard Erasmus who lifted his side to 321-6 with a barnstorming 156 not out.

Opposite number Paul Stirling responded with 77 from 71 balls — his second successive half-century — but the eventual 31-run loss would have deservedly been far greater but for a ninth-wicket partnership of 58 between Gavin Hoey and Jai Moondra.

Leg-spinner Hoey had again been Ireland’s standout performer with the ball, taking 3-53.

Wilson has impressed with his bearing and a number of initiatives since taking over from Heinrich Malan in June but how he handles the Adair situation could define his reign, as the all-rounder is not nicknamed ‘Sparky’ because he used to be an electrician.

It’s not as though an Ireland coach persisting with a disciplinary measure long past its relevance is something he hasn’t experienced at first hand.

In 2012 Phil Simmons fell out with Niall O’Brien when the latter opted out of a couple of matches in Kenya and gave the wicketkeeping gloves to Wilson, who kept them for the next three years.

With such a small pool of players to choose from, and the World Cup qualifiers looming in February and March, it’s in everyone’s interests that the two Belfast men settle their differences this week and leave locking horns to the wildebeest in the nearby Kalahari.