PAUL STIRLING gave his Ireland colleagues a morale boost ahead of the start of today’s Test match against Bangladesh in Dhaka by declaring his availability for the second half of the tour to Sri Lanka later this month.

Stirling had been expected to miss both Test matches against Sri Lanka, as well as the one in Dhaka, but will now be available for selection for the second game in Galle after taking a short break from the game to recharge his batteries after a busy winter.

“Paul was originally going to join the squad in Sri Lanka for an ODI series that was planned after the first Test,” chairman of selectors Andy White explained. 

“However, with those ODIs now converted to a second Test match, and the scheduled Bangladesh T20I series in Ireland postponed, he will have a greater focus on red-ball cricket and will join the squad for that second Test.”

The change of heart would suggest that Stirling is also likely to play in the one-off Test match against England at Lord’s in early June.

Ireland coach Heinrich Malan had been keen to keep his best one-day batsman fresh, both mentally and physically, for the three-match World Cup Super League qualifying series against Bangladesh at Chelmsford next month.

But South Africa’s victories over the Netherlands in the past week have all but ended Irish hopes of automatic qualification for the 50-overs World Cup in India later this year.

To pip South Africa on run rate for the last berth on the ladder, Ireland would not only have to win all three games against Bangladesh but do so by 70-odd runs, or the equivalent in overs, each time.