Ireland have brought back former skipper into their ODI squad after his recovery from a finger injury and handed all-rounder Curtis Campher a maiden T20I call-up for the upcoming series at home against Zimbabwe.
Porterfield sustained his finger injury while playing against South Africa in July but having gone through a swift rehab, the veteran left-hand batsman is back in the reckoning for the 50-over version.
Campher had undergone surgery for an ankle injury in May before making his comeback to the national fold for the latter half of Proteas’ tour in July. Born in South Africa, the promising young cricketer is also part of the Zimbabweans’ ODIs during their visit.
“Curtis is back bowling following his injury, and will add a dynamic batting and bowling presence to the squad. His inclusion will provide Graham Ford and Andrew Balbirnie with increased flexibility as they look to finalise their plans ahead of the (T20) World Cup,”
Andrew White, Ireland’s chief selector, said in a media release.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Neil Rock is also back in the respective limited-overs squads after returning COVID-19 negative.
Further, the selectors have picked uncapped spin all-rounder Graham Kennedy to face the tourists, besides naming an alternate Wolves squad, led by Porterfield, which will play a warm-up game scheduled between the T20Is and ODIs. This Wolves squad will have two more players added to it after the first two T20Is between the national sides.
Zimbabwe will play five T20Is and three ODIs on their trip spanning August 27 to September 13.
The T20Is will be Ireland’s last before the T20 World Cup, while the ODIs offer them a chance to strengthen their bid for automatic qualification to the 2023 World Cup via the ICC Super League.
