Kevin O’Brien returns as Ireland at full strength for African tour

Fit-again Kevin O’Brien will return to a full-strength Ireland squad for the tour of Zimbabwe and Namibia in October.

The big-hitting all-rounder has recovered from the hamstring injury which ruled him out of Ireland’s one-day international defeat against Australia in Belfast last month.

O’Brien therefore returns in a 15-man squad to travel initially to Zimbabwe for three ODIs, and a four-day fixture against Zimbabwe A, and then to take on Namibia in an Intercontinental Cup match.

Captain William Porterfield said: "It's fantastic that everyone is fit and raring to go for the tour.

“We know it’s going to be a good test, but it’ll be one we’re well prepared for.”

Looking ahead to the fixture against Namibia, he added: “We’re the holders and have won the event four times.

“There’s obviously the extra incentive this time, with the chance to qualify to play Test cricket – and that’s the ambition of everyone at Cricket Ireland.”

IRELAND (Squad v Zimbabwe and Namibia): W Porterfield (capt), A Balbirnie, G Dockrell, E Joyce, J Mooney, T Murtagh, A McBrine, K O’Brien, N O’Brien, S Poynter*, M Sorensen, P Stirling, S Thompson, G Wilson), C Young. * Zimbabwe tour only