Why the T20I series v India holds a lot of importance for Paul Stirling

Irish captain Andrew Balbirnie has made no bones about the fact that the soon-to-begin series against India isn’t bothering him all that much. 

And that his team hopes to feed off the expected capacity crowd at Malahide. 

But if there’s a name in the Irish camp that could feel some nerves that may not be down to the opponent as much as it may be due to a barren run experienced so far in 2022, then it’s Paul Stirling. 

This is both interesting and telling. 

A biffing opening bat, Paul Stirling, who has against his name nearly 8,000 white ball runs, hasn’t particularly had a memorable 2022 so far. 

The highest scorer in the current Irish line-up where it comes to both T20I’s and ODI’s, the right-hander has scored only 65 from two fifty-over games and just 170 from eight appearances in the game’s shortest format this year. 

But in a year where Paul Stirling has cracked just a solitary fifty from both formats despite ten batting outings, the concerning point isn’t just the lack of runs. It’s the rather banal strike rate of 111 in 2022 T20I’s, the lowest when compared to his past four years’ readings, that appears a touch surprising. 

On top of that, an insipid outing versus the West Indies, though a definitive series for Balbirnie’s men, didn’t help much. When he did get going, his departure for a quickfire 44 at Sabina Park, curtailed an inning that was seemingly soaring in size and statistical output.

Though one of the balanced sides in world cricket, one no longer an Associate but a promising full-time ICC member, Ireland don’t necessarily possess the depth in batting much like a West Indies, South Africa, or Pakistan in the white-ball game. 

While they’re blessed with up-and-coming names in Harry Tector and Curtis Campher who can stick to the wicket and engage in big-hitting, Ireland are still immensely reliant on a top-order that comprises captain Balbirnie and their most experienced man- Paul Stirling. 

Though it’s not entirely hard to note just how important a figure Stirling is to his side and now, perhaps utterly irreplaceable. The only man in the green unit with over 5,000 ODI runs, Paul Stirling is a bit of a legend. He goes about scoring his runs - and he scores a lot of hundreds- with carefree abandon. 

While he’s to feature in a T20I series, Stirling must derive confidence from what is clearly an impressive ODI journey with Ireland, and truth be told, an iconic one in the context of his own importance to the side. 

Of his twelve centuries, three came in 2021 alone. 

And while much of the remainder of the year shall see prominent sides play the game’s shortest format, Stirling’s fine record of 2,700 plus runs (in T20I’s) offers massive hope and the need to search for inspiration. 

In there lies the need for some introspection as well; can I do what I’ve been doing so far with much gusto and pride and joy?

Can I take the attack to an Indian lineup that has no Shami and Bumrah and is perhaps spin reliant?

Truth be told, the need to do is imperative. 

For not only will the elegant right-hander Balbirnie depend on his senior statesman to make a statement for their nation, but in the wake of the legend William Porterfield’s departure, much of Irish batting’s core comes to rest on Paul Stirling’s broad shoulders. 

There’s, therefore, a need to flex them and accept the brute Indian challenge with glee and a sense of reassured-ness. 

Moreover, an old guard of Ireland cricket Kevin O’Brien isn’t around as well. 

Time to push the throttle and produce some fine runs, Mr. Stirling!