GAVIN HOEY has been named in a 14-strong squad for Ireland’s one-off Test match against Zimbabwe in Belfast next week, following in the family tradition of his leg-spinning father Conor who played the last of his 42 internationals nearly three decades ago.

While Hoey is the one uncapped player in the group and likely to remain so with finger spinners Andy McBrine and Matthew Humphreys ahead of him in the pecking order, national selector Andy White sees a bright future for the 22-year-old Dubliner.

“Gavin is a talented leg spinner, and his ability to spin the ball both ways gives us a strong wicket-taking option,” White said. 

“He’s been on the radar for a while and this is an opportunity to come into the Test squad and get used to the environment.”

Ireland recorded a first Test win at the eighth attempt against Afghanistan in March and are confident of doubling up in home conditions against a Zimbabwe team missing key all-rounders Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl.

“On the back of that first victory, we’re looking for another win,” White said. “We're not looking to just pick a squad that will compete, we're looking at a squad that can actually win the Test match - by taking 20 wickets.”

While Paul Stirling and Mark Adair will both relish playing the first Test to be staged in their home town, left-arm quick Josh Little has again foregone the chance to make his debut as he fulfils T20 franchise duties in the US Major League Cricket.

Veteran George Dockrell is another familiar name missing from the squad but the Leinster all-rounder has the compensation of joining Lancashire for the county’s remaining T20 Blast matches.

TEST SQUAD: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (w/k), Craig Young.