West Indies will hold nothing back : Paul Stirling

United News of India

21-05-2025

Clontarf, May 21 (UNI) Ireland captain Paul Stirling said there will be "nothing held back" in his side's one-day international series against West Indies in Dublin this week.
The Irish will host West Indies here on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday before three T20 contests against the same opponents in Bready next month.
The two white-ball series will be West Indies' first games in Ireland since 2019, and Stirling expects
a full-throttle challenge from the tourists, who face England in between their two trips to Ireland.
"I think when they bookend a tour against us and England, they always bring their strongest side and that's very pleasing," the 34-year-old opener told BBC Sport NI.
"It's not just a series against us, where teams can play a few new faces or slightly less strong.
They're playing England in five ODIs next week, so they've brought their full squad and that's
the big challenge.
"We've got the West Indies squad that will face England so there will be nothing held back."
Ireland secured a 2-1 ODI series win over West Indies in June 2022 before an eye-catching T20 World Cup victory over the same opponents in Hobart later that year, which was their most recent meeting.
Stirling is hoping his side can get off to a good start on Wednesday as they chase another big win.
"They always bring a flavour to the games and usually some big-hitting, so hopefully we can negate that and start well," he said.
"That's the case for us when you get a touring side coming over into these conditions, which they're not necessarily used to from the Caribbean, to start well and put them under pressure early and see
if we can maintain that throughout the day."
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