FOR the first time in almost four years Ireland step out on to a cricket field wearing whites as they prepare for the first Test against Bangladesh. The steamy Asian city of Dhaka is a long way from genteel Lord’s where Ireland last played red-ball cricket in a memorable tussle with England.

Six of the Ireland team have retired, while Paul Stirling has been rested after a busy white-ball winter.

This is the first of four Test matches in the next three months, with a two-game tour to Sri Lanka following before a return to Lord’s in June.

One man almost certain to make his debut is Lorcan Tucker, who will become Ireland’s fourth wicketkeeper in four tests. Yesterday he said: ‘I’ve been involved in two Test squads already, and they’re always special days — I think for anyone possibly making their debut this week it will be pretty special occasion.

‘I don’t think Test cricket was on my radar at all growing up watching Ireland playing cricket, but it’s obviously something I think about now, so it will be great if I am given that debut cap. Test cricket, for me, it’s the history that makes it special. It’s the format that’s been played for well over 100 years.

‘Players are often measured by how well they perform in Test cricket, and that’s still the way it is. I know modern (white-ball) cricket has come in and it’s exciting, but Test cricket still has that magic that all the white-ball cricket in the world can’t wash away.’

Ireland have had a tough tour of Bangladesh, losing the ODI series 2-0 and T20s 2-1, but Tucker is impressed by the character shown by the squad.

‘Yeah, we knew this was going to be a tough tour,’ he said. ‘You only had to see what happened to England a few weeks ago. Bangladesh are a confident and in-form team in white ball cricket, especially at home, but I think the last game was impressive with the character we showed.

"We spoke about how we wanted to show resilience in the face of adversity and a seriously in-form team, and we did that. Our T20 cricket is something we’ve been proud of recently, as a team we’ve worked hard to create that buzz and atmosphere about us, and I think it was great to show that character about us in that win.’

Ireland’s players are well short of experience with the red ball, with the interpro three-dayers cancelled at the end of 2019 and yet to be reinstated.

‘I think it would be naïve to suggest all our preparations have been on red-ball cricket’, admits Tucker. ‘We’ve come straight out of a T20I series, and a lot of white-ball cricket before that. I suppose as a squad we’re looking at our strengths in ODI and T20I cricket to see where that can serve us well in these upcoming Test matches. I think we’re all remaining open minded and trusting that scoring runs and taking wickets are still the basic aims of the game. From a wicketkeeping point of view it will be all about concentration — there will be some long days in the heat.’

IRELAND SQUAD with test caps in brackets: Andrew Balbirnie (captain, 3), Mark Adair (1), Curtis Campher (0), Murray Commins (0), George Dockrell (1), Fionn Hand (0), Graham Hume (0), Matthew Humphreys (0), Tom Mayes (0), Andrew McBrine (2), James McCollum (2), PJ Moor (9 for Zimbabwe), Harry Tector (0), Lorcan Tucker (0), Ben White (0).