(Cricket news) Irish international Paul Stirling has flown to England to join the Southern Brave in The Hundred for the second straight year after Cricket Ireland agreed to a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Stirling, 31, recently became only the fourth player to pass 3,000 runs in T20Is and was Player of the Match in the Final of The Hundred last year. He will be available for the matches and the finals, if the Brave qualify.
The matches will be:
22 August: Welsh Fire v Southern Brave (Sophia Gardens)
25 August: Southern Brave v Trent Rockets (The Ageas Bowl)
31 August: Northern Superchargers v Southern Brave (Headingley)
The finals begin on 2 September. See full fixture list here: https://www.thehundred.com/fixtures
Stirling made his T20 International debut in 2009 and has played 114 T20Is for Ireland to date, making 3,011 runs at an average of 28.67 and a strike rate of 134.84. He is joining the Brave as the overseas player replacement for Australia’s Marcus Stoinis who has been called up to national duties.
Paul Stirling said: “The Hundred is an exciting competition and having been fortunate enough to play in the inaugural edition, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to return to the Ageas Bowl with the Southern Brave. I very much enjoyed being part of a title-winning side last year, so am looking forward to working with [head coach] Mahela Jayawardene, [captain] James Vince and the Brave squad once more.”
Mahela Jayawardene, Head Coach of Southern Brave, said: “To bring in a player of such experience and impact is exceptional – and I’m very much looking forward to working with Stirlo once more. His white ball qualities were on full display in the Final last year, and he was one of the main reasons this Brave side lifted the inaugural trophy.”
Also read: Does Dinesh Karthik fit into India's full strength T20 playing XI?
