Ireland captain Stirling says Ireland are underprepared for T20 series against England
Paul Stirling admits Ireland are underprepared for the upcoming three-match T20 series against England after limited competitive cricket this summer.
T20 series preview: Ireland vs England
Venue: Malahide, County Dublin | Dates: 17, 19, 21 September | Start time: 13:30 BST
Coverage: Commentary on INLIBER Radio 5 Sports Extra and INLIBER Sounds; live text on INLIBER Sport.
Ireland captain Paul Stirling admits his side are starting the three-match series "underprepared" after only three internationals this summer. They face England in Dublin from Wednesday, their first fixtures since June’s loss to West Indies.
The squad have played domestic engagements like the Emerald Challenge and the Inter-Provincial Cup but lack recent high-level competition. Stirling hopes the November tour of Bangladesh will jumpstart a busier calendar ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup and a Test against New Zealand.
Facing fresh England talent
Without their full-strength squad preparing for the Ashes, England will be led by 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, the youngest to captain England in an international. Stirling, who faced Bethell in county cricket, praised his "world-class" ball-striking.
Ireland will miss bowlers Josh Little, Mark Adair and Fionn Hand but remain confident against a motivated England side targeting T20 World Cup spots.
Stirling warns the lack of summer internationals has left Ireland underprepared, but believes the challenge will bring out their best ahead of key global tournaments.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
Discover the latest news and current events in Sports News as of 16-09-2025. The article titled " Ireland captain Stirling says Ireland are underprepared for T20 series against England " provides you with the most relevant and reliable information in the Sports News field. Each news piece is thoroughly analyzed to deliver valuable insights to our readers.
The information in " Ireland captain Stirling says Ireland are underprepared for T20 series against England " helps you make better-informed decisions within the Sports News category. Our news articles are continuously updated and adhere to journalistic standards.