Ireland v New Zealand: Paul Stirling out with calf injury as Andrew Balbirnie calls for first-class return

This Test will be Ireland’s 13th in the format since they were made a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June 2017.

Given their players have had just one warm-up game, Balbirnie acknowledged his side are not really “ready” when their preparation is “compared to other Test nations”.

He added: “You can’t really beat around the bush there.

“We’ve guys making their first-class debut this week who are going to be arguably playing the Test match next week. That doesn’t happen around the world.

“There’s such isolated fixtures that you just pick on what you see almost on form. We have good group of cricketers that we know will go out and try to put their best foot forward.”

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.

Balbirnie would welcome Ireland’s inclusion but said Ireland they need to reestablish a first-class ecosystem – an inter-provincial tournament was last played in 2019 – to support the format.

“It will be naturally very exciting for the group, having guaranteed Test matches, something to work towards,” added the Irish skipper.

“And hopefully then a first-class structure is in place for these guys to strive because, ultimately, if we are in WTC, we’ve got to make sure that our guys are ready to play the Test matches that are on offer.”