Paul Stirling

Paul Robert Stirling (born 3 September 1990) is an Irish cricketer. Considered one of the best batsmen to play for Ireland, Stirling is the opening batsman for the Ireland cricket team and a right arm offbreak bowler. He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Ireland's first ever Test match, against Pakistan, in May 2018. He was appointed as the vice-captain of the Ireland team in June 2020.[1]

Paul Stirling
Personal information
Full namePaul Robert Stirling
Born (1990-09-03) 3 September 1990
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleAll-rounder
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 9)11 May 2018 v Pakistan
Last Test24 July 2019 v England
ODI debut (cap 28)1 July 2008 v New Zealand
Last ODI12 January 2020 v West Indies
T20I debut (cap 16)15 June 2009 v Pakistan
Last T20I10 March 2020 v Afghanistan
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2010–2019Middlesex
2013Sylhet Royals
2017–presentChitwan Tigers
2019Khulna Titans
2020Northamptonshire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC
Matches 3 117 78 70
Runs scored 104 4,121 2,124 2,932
Batting average 17.33 36.79 29.91 27.92
100s/50s 0/0 8/24 0/18 6/14
Top score 36 177 95 146
Balls bowled 12 2,392 486 1,118
Wickets 0 43 17 27
Bowling average – 44.23 36.17 41.40
5 wickets in innings – 1 0 0
10 wickets in match – 0 0 0
Best bowling – 6/55 3/21 2/21
Catches/stumpings 4/– 45/– 22/– 40/–
Source: ESPNCricinfo, 21 April 2020

He debuted in first-class cricket in March 2008, playing for Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup. The same year Stirling made his debut in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He was also snicked off by George Barlow . Having represented Middlesex's youth sides and Second XI, Stirling signed a contract with the club in December 2009. A month later he was awarded a contract with Cricket Ireland, making him one of six players with a full-time contract with the board. He made his Twenty20 and List A debuts for Middlesex in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

In December 2018, he was one of nineteen players to be awarded a central contract by Cricket Ireland for the 2019 season.[2][3] In July 2019, in the second ODI against Zimbabwe, Stirling became the first batsman for Ireland to score 4,000 runs in ODIs.[4] In January 2020, he was one of nineteen players to be awarded a central contract from Cricket Ireland,[5] the first year in which all contracts were awarded on a full-time basis.[6]

Early career

In July 2009, Stirling scored his maiden first-class century. In Ireland's opening match of the 2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup, he opened the batting with Jeremy Bray and in the first innings scored 100.[7] Stirling was a member of the Ireland squad that participated in 2010 Under-19 World Cup hosted by New Zealand in January. The team were runners-up to Bangladesh in the Plate Championship, finishing tenth overall out of 16 teams.[8] Stirling was the team's leading run-scorer, with 209 from five matches.[9]

Contracts with Middlesex

In December 2009 Stirling signed a three-year contract with Middlesex County Cricket Club, joining former Ireland international Eoin Morgan at the club. According to Angus Fraser, the club's director of cricket, representing Ireland is Stirling's priority; he also stated that "Paul has been involved with the Middlesex youth sides and Second XI and we are delighted that he has now signed a full time contract for the club. His batting for Ireland in 2009 highlighted his potential".[10] The following month Cricket Ireland, the governing body for cricket in Ireland, awarded Stirling a full-time contract. He was one of six players to be awarded such contracts with Cricket Ireland,[11] and came just a year after the first professional contracts were awarded to Ireland's cricketers. Before that players were amateurs relying on income from other jobs and playing cricket in their spare time. The contract allowed Stirling and the others to focus on cricket, with the aim of improving ahead of the 2011 World Cup.[12]

After the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Stirling broke into Middlesex's one-day side during the 2011 season, making his List A debut for the club on 24 April against Worcestershire.[13][14] Although Middlesex failed to progress beyond the group stages of the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40, Stirling enjoyed personal success. Scoring 535 runs from 12 matches, he was Middlesex's leading run-scorer and 7th in the competition.[15] During an innings of 68 against Yorkshire, one of Stirling's two half-centuries in the competition, he passed 2,000 runs in List A cricket.[16] Towards the end of the competition Stirling struck his first century in Middlesex colours, scoring 109 runs from 81 balls to a 34-run win over Derbyshire.[17]

Although a full-strength team played against England in an ODI in August 2012, county commitments meant many of Ireland's senior players were unavailable to play in the team's opening match of the 2011–13 Intercontinental Cup.[18] An attacking half-century from Stirling in the final innings of the match helped secure victory for Ireland.[19][20] Later that same month Stirling scored his second first-class century. His innings of 107, beating his previous highest score of 100, came off just 79 deliveries and helped Ireland to their second win of the Intercontinental Cup.[21][22]

Acknowledgment

In August 2010, Stirling was nominated in the "Emerging Player of the Year" and "Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year" categories for the ICC Awards. He was the only associate member to be nominated in the "Emerging Player" category, the other 15 players coming from Test-playing countries. Ireland's had most nominees in the "Associate and Affiliate" category, with Trent Johnston and Kevin O'Brien included alongside Stirling. Richard Holdsworth, a representative of the ICC, said "I think it's fantastic for Paul Stirling to be nominated in two separate categories and to be recognised alongside some of the leading emerging players in the Full Members, it proves how far the development of Associate cricket has progressed".[23] He did not make the short list in either category.[24]

International career

On 7 September 2010, during a One Day International against Canada, Stirling made his maiden List-A century, scoring 177 runs. In doing so, Stirling made the highest individual score for Ireland in an One Day International.

Stirling was selected in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup.[25] Ireland won two out of six matches, which was not sufficient to progress beyond the group stage, but finished on a high by beating the Netherlands. Chasing 307 to win on a batting friendly wicket, Stirling opened the batting with team captain William Porterfield. The pair shared a partnership of 177 runs, setting a new record for Ireland's first wicket in ODIs. Stirling fell for 101, his century coming off 70 deliveries, which made it the fourth-fastest in World Cup history.[26]

When Ireland's cricketers have been regulars for English counties, demands from country and club have sometimes come into conflict. Despite this, Stirling played in Ireland's two-match ODI series against Pakistan in May. Ireland lost the series 2–0, but in the second match Stirling scored his first century against a Test nation.[27] Stirling's influence on the team was such that, along with all-round Kevin O'Brien, he was one of two Ireland players shortlisted for Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year at the 2011 ICC Awards in August.[28]

A side made up of some of the best players from Associate and Affiliate teams was put together to face England in Dubai in January 2012. The three-day match was part of England's preparation for a series against Pakistan later that month. Stirling was one of four Ireland players included in the 12-man squad.[29]

In the ODI series against Afghanistan he along with Rashid Khan became the first pair of bowlers representing different teams to take 6 wickets a piece in a single ODI match [30]

In February 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Stirling as one of the ten players to watch ahead of the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.[31]

In May 2018, he was named in a fourteen-man squad for Ireland's first ever Test match, which was played against Pakistan later the same month.[32][33] He made his Test debut for Ireland, against Pakistan, on 11 May 2018. He scored 17 runs in the first innings, and became the first Irish batsman to score a boundary in Test cricket.[34][35] In January 2019, he was named in Ireland's squad for their one-off Test against Afghanistan in India.[36][37]

In September 2019, he was named in Ireland's squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.[38] He was the leading run-scorer in the tournament, with 291 runs in eight matches.[39][40]

In June 2020, he was named as the vice-captain of the Ireland cricket team.[41]

T20 franchise career

In September 2018, he was named in Kandahar's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.[42] The following month, he was named in Paarl Rocks' squad for the first edition of the Mzansi Super League T20 tournament.[43][44]

In July 2019, he was selected to play for the Belfast Titans in the inaugural edition of the Euro T20 Slam cricket tournament.[45][46] However, the following month the tournament was cancelled.[47]

He signed a contract with Northamptonshire for the 2020 Vitality t20 Blast on 31 January 2020.

References
  1. "Paul Stirling named Ireland Men's Vice-Captain". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  2. "19 men's central player contracts finalised ahead of busy 2019". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  3. "Ireland women to receive first professional contracts". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  4. "Mire's middle overs magic keeps Ireland modest". CricBuzz. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  5. "Gareth Delany, Shane Getkate amongst 19 men's central player contracts offered ahead of a busy 2020". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  6. "Delany, Getkate highlight Ireland men's central contracts list for 2020". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  7. Stirling sparkles but Tikolo strikes back, Cricinfo, 3 July 2009, retrieved 11 August 2009
  8. Bangladesh take Plate championship, Cricinfo, 28 January 2010, retrieved 20 September 2011
  9. ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2009/10 / Records / Most runs, Cricinfo, retrieved 20 September 2011
  10. Teenager Stirling joins Middlesex, BBC Sport, 5 December 2009, retrieved 6 December 2009
  11. Ireland back players ahead of 2011 World Cup, Cricinfo, 15 January 2010, retrieved 10 September 2011
  12. Cricket Ireland announce player contract details, CricketEurope, 13 January 2010, retrieved 10 September 2011
  13. Middlesex keep the winning habit, ECB, 24 April 2011, retrieved 10 September 2011
  14. List A Matches played by Paul Stirling, Cricket Archive, retrieved 10 September 2011
  15. Records / Clydesdale Bank 40, 2011 / Most runs, Cricinfo, retrieved 10 September 2011
  16. a21446 Middlesex v Yorkshire: Clydesdale Bank 40 2011 (Group A), Cricket Archive, retrieved 10 September 2011
  17. Stirling ton sinks Derbyshire hopes, 21 August 2011, retrieved 10 September 2011
  18. Kevin O'Brien to lead Ireland against Namibia, Cricinfo, 29 August 2011, retrieved 30 August 2011
  19. Bowlers, Stirling put Ireland on verge of win, Cricinfo, 8 September 2011, retrieved 10 September 2011
  20. Ireland wrap up comfortable win, Cricinfo, 9 September 2011, retrieved 10 September 2011
  21. Stirling, O'Brien help Ireland dominate Canada, Cricinfo, 13 September 2011, retrieved 6 October 2011
  22. Ireland wrap up innings victory, Cricinfo, 14 September 2011, retrieved 6 October 2011
  23. Paul Stirling nominated in two categories in ICC Awards, Cricket Ireland, 18 August 2010, retrieved 20 August 2010
  24. Tendulkar in all major categories for ICC awards, Cricinfo, 20 September 2010, retrieved 20 September 2010
  25. Ireland pick Ed Joyce for World Cup, Cricinfo, 19 January 2011, retrieved 27 January 2011
  26. Brickhill, Liam (18 March 2011), Stirling ton sets up six-wicket win, Cricinfo, retrieved 10 September 2011
  27. Ireland captain lauds Paul Stirling after Pakistan loss, BBC Sport, 31 May 2011, retrieved 10 September 2011
  28. England dominate ICC Test team of the year, Cricinfo, 26 August 2011, retrieved 31 August 2011
  29. Porterfield leads ICC side against England, Cricinfo, 16 December 2011, retrieved 18 December 2011
  30. "Stirling's stunning all-round show". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  31. "10 stars to look out for at CWCQ". International Cricket Council. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  32. "Ireland announce 14-man squad for historic first Test against Pakistan". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  33. "Ireland omit George Dockrell for historic first men's Test against Pakistan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  34. "Only Test, Pakistan tour of Ireland, England and Scotland at Dublin, May 11-15 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  35. "Ireland win toss, opt to bowl in historic Test against Pakistan". Geo TV. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  36. "Ireland announce squads for Afghanistan series". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  37. "Stirling to captain Ireland T20 squad, new faces named for upcoming Oman and Afghanistan series". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  38. "Squad announced for Oman Series and ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  39. "ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier, 2019/20 - Ireland: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  40. "ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier, 2019/20 : Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  41. "Paul Stirling appointed Ireland vice-captain". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  42. "Afghanistan Premier League 2018 – All you need to know from the player draft". CricTracker. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  43. "Mzansi Super League - full squad lists". Sport24. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  44. "Mzansi Super League Player Draft: The story so far". Independent Online. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  45. "Eoin Morgan to represent Dublin franchise in inaugural Euro T20 Slam". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  46. "Euro T20 Slam Player Draft completed". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  47. "Inaugural Euro T20 Slam cancelled at two weeks' notice". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
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