Ireland and New Zealand are facing off in a Test match for the first time. The historic occasion is taking place in Belfast, with the weather playing its part as Stormont is bathed in sunshine on day one.
Ireland Opt to Bowl First After Winning Toss
Ireland have won the toss and skipper Andy Balbirnie has opted to bowl first. The four-day Test is Ireland’s first on home soil since they defeated Zimbabwe at the same venue in July 2024.
New Zealand Focused on Ireland Test Ahead of England Series
New Zealand captain Tom Latham says his side are “solely focused on this match” as they warm up for their forthcoming three-Test series against England. Latham told BBC Sport NI that they are “certainly not taking it lightly”. He added that most of the guys in this group have played Test cricket and it’s important to learn from those experiences.
Latham said that they want to display their skills as best they can and play their brand of cricket as best they can. The tourists go into the encounter as heavy favourites in light of their position as the fifth-ranked team in the ICC rankings, against an Irish team which will be competing in the red-ball format of the game for just the 13th time and the first time against this opposition.
“We are solely focused on this match and we’re looking forward to what the next four days presents,” Latham stated.
Ireland’s Test Record Since 2017
Ireland’s fortunes in Test cricket have been mixed since they were made a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June 2017. They have played 12, won three and lost nine, with their last win coming in Belfast against Zimbabwe in July 2024.
- Played: 12
- Won: 3
- Lost: 9
While they regularly compete in T20 and one day internationals, Test matches are a rarity for Ireland as they lack the dedicated red-ball infrastructure to be able to consistently compete against some of the world’s best nations. They do not have the luxury of a domestic first-class ecosystem to produce players ready for the format with the most recent inter-provincial tournament played in 2019.
Ireland could get more Test fixtures if they are added to the ICC’s World Test Championship as part of a much-discussed revamp of the structure for the longer format by the world governing body, but that is a conversation that will come further down the line. New Zealand picked up victories against the West Indies and Zimbabwe in their most recent Tests in 2025.
For now, Ireland’s focus will be trying to add a fourth victory to their record and a second in Belfast.