'Real asset' Lisburn star receives maiden Ireland ODI call-up as squad revealed for Afghanistan series
Lisburn’s Ben Calitz has received his first call-up to Ireland’s ODI squad ahead of their five-match series against Afghanistan next month – while breakout star Jai Moondra is also in line to make his 50-over international debut.
Calitz has featured for Ireland in the Twenty20 format and continued to enhance his devastating hard-hitting reputation by striking 133* from only 48 balls in Sunday’s LVS T20 Cup final win over Waringstown at The Lawn.
Vancouver-born Calitz is joined in the squad – which will be captained by Paul Stirling – by Lisburn team-mate Mark Adair while Instonians batter Cade Carmichael has also been included.
The opening two matches of Gary Wilson’s first series as Ireland head coach will be played at Bready on August 5 and 7 before a trio of fixtures at Stormont on August 10, 12 and 15.
“I am very much looking forward to the series against Afghanistan,” said Wilson. “These are our first ODIs in 15 months and in the intervening period, many players have put their hand up for selection which is a great place to be.
"We are leaving players out who rightly believe they are good enough to be selected, however, we have full faith in the squad that we have picked.
“There is a great rivalry that has built up over the years between the two teams, and I expect that to continue during this series.
"We have selected a squad that is reflective of the way in which we want to play. We want to play the conditions and situations in front of us but ultimately be dynamic and look for opportunities to put pressure on the opposition.
“With the ball, we want to be consistently looking for wickets and in the field we want to hunt down chances and be known for a never say die attitude that is synonymous with great Irish sides, of which we believe this is one.”
Byron McDonough has been handed his maiden Ireland call-up while Andrew White, Cricket Ireland's National Selector, has hailed Calitz as a “real asset”.
“I think everyone will be really excited to see the team back on the field following the historic victories over India in June,” said White. “Those results were a special achievement for the group, and I know they will be looking forward to building on that momentum as we return to One-Day International cricket”
"This five-game series provides a great opportunity for the squad to test themselves against world class opposition.
"We are particularly pleased to have Jai Moondra and Byron McDonough in the squad.
"Both players bring different attributes that we believe can have a real impact over the course of the series while Gavin Hoey provides a genuine wicket taking threat through the middle overs with his ability to spin the ball both ways and create pressure on opposition batters.
"From a batting perspective, Ben Calitz's powerful and dynamic approach gives the squad valuable options in the middle to lower order. His ability to change the momentum of a game is a real asset.''
Ireland ODI squad for Afghanistan series: Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker.