Large image – A uncommon Test for Afghanistan and Eire
Six-and-a-half years in the past, these two sides had been awarded Full Member standing, however other than the monetary perks that brings, that promotion for Eire and Afghanistan has appeared little greater than theoretical. Neither aspect is a part of the World Test Championship; none of them have even performed a three-match Test collection. The 2 have mixed for 15 Checks, almost all of them stand-alone, one-off video games tacked on like afterthoughts to a white-ball collection.
The Test these two play in Abu Dhabi this week isn’t any completely different, one five-day recreation adopted by three ODIs and three T20Is. Afghanistan are coming off a Test in Colombo that Sri Lanka received at a canter, however not less than meaning they’ve some red-ball expertise they will leverage. A lot of the squad is comparable to the one they picked for that recreation, and whereas Rashid Khan strikes nearer to a return, Afghanistan stay with out their captain for now.
Eire, in the meantime, final performed a Test in the summertime of 2023, although they did play 4 Checks that yr, a quantity Afghanistan would have to return to 2021 to equal. In contrast to the three Checks Afghanistan have received, although, Eire are but to break their duck, ending second greatest in all seven. That’s mitigated by the comparatively harder opposition they’ve performed, and the one match these sides performed towards one another earlier than was additionally formally a “house” Test for Afghanistan, performed in Dehradun. Afghanistan would ease to a seven-wicket win.
Afghanistan LLWLL (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
Within the highlight – Gurbaz and Tucker
Wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz is one among Afghanistan’s brightest stars for his prowess with the bat and behind the stumps within the white-ball recreation, however is but to make his Test debut. That appears virtually sure to change along with his inclusion to this squad. Whereas information on his red-ball fashion of play is troublesome to reliably supply, the 12 first-class video games he is performed have seen him common virtually 50 with a strike fee in extra of 72. There’s little cause why his apparent expertise shouldn’t translate to the longest format, and if he hits his stride, it is going to be as watchable as it’s efficient.
Vice-captain Lorcan Tucker is one among Eire’s nailed-on starters, although a lot of the previous three months have seen him heat substitute benches in South Africa and Pakistan. He was with the Paarl Royals within the SA20, however would not find yourself getting a recreation, and performed as wicketkeeper for Lahore Qalandars of their opening fixture earlier than being benched for the following two. However Eire require him to hit the bottom working in Abu Dhabi, and relied on him for his contributions within the center order in all 4 Checks in 2023. He was their main Test run-scorer for the yr, his 351 runs coming at 43.87, a median none of his countrymen matched.
Afghanistan’s largest problem considerations papering over Rashid’s absence. Left arm wristspinner Zahir Khan is again within the squad after lacking out towards Sri Lanka, and uncapped legspinner Khalil Gurbaz has additionally been drafted in.
Afghanistan: 1 Ibrahim Zadran 2 Noor Ali Zadran 3 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) 4 Rahmat Shah 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt) 6 Ikram Alikhil 7 Nasir Jamal 8 Zia ur Rehman 9 Nijat Masood 10 Naveed Zadram 11 Zahir Khan
Left arm spinner Theo van Woerkom, who switched allegiances from New Zealand to Eire and made his white-ball debut final yr, seems set to play his first Test in a line-up that in any other case seems comparable to Eire’s current Test beginning XIs.
Eire: 1 James McCollom 2 Peter Moor 3 Andrew Balbirnie (capt) 4 Harry Tector 5 Paul Stirling 6 Curtis Campher 7 Lorcan Tucker (wk) 8 Mark Adair 9 Andy McBrine 10 Theo van Woerkom 11 Craig Younger
There was a late change of venue for this Test match. Initially scheduled for the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, the sport will now be performed on the Tolerance Oval adjoining to the larger floor. Eire, who chosen their preliminary squad on the belief the Sheikh Zayed Stadium does not take an excessive amount of red-ball flip, solely realized of the change after arriving within the UAE. With this being the primary Test on the Oval, situations are a little bit of a thriller, although climate will not be anticipated to play spoilsport.
The Tolerance Oval would be the 122nd venue to host Test match cricket.
Afghanistan’s dependence on Rashid displays within the wickets charts. The legspinner has taken 34 in 5 matches, 16 away from his closest compatriot, Amir Hamza, who has 18.
Ought to Eire register a win in both of their subsequent three Checks, they’ll pip Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and New Zealand within the variety of matches taken to register their first Test win
