Balbirnie says Test battle is something to relish for Irish

ANDY Balbirnie is getting ready to don the whites again on Thursday and captain Ireland in their first Test match in Belfast against Zimbabwe in what he happily admits is his favourite form of the game.

The 33-year-old skipper is the only player to feature in all eight Tests since Ireland were elevated to the top-tier of international cricket in 2017 and was “overwhelmed” to lead the team to their first victory over Afghanistan in March.

“Test cricket will always hold a special place in my heart,” he said.

“We have so much white-ball cricket throughout the year that it’s become the norm for us, so playing these longer games is a real pleasure because it doesn’t happen that often.

“As a player, you really enjoy the build-up to it, the ebbs and flows of the game itself, the intricacies and the traditions that make it so special.”

Balbirnie’s introduction to Tests was far from pleasurable, though, as he became the first Ireland player to record a ‘pair’ — two noughts — against Pakistan at Malahide in 2018.

“I can never get away from that — it’s going to be with me for the rest of time,” he said, chuckling at the unwanted record.

“To be fair, I couldn’t have been in better form. I was full of confidence, but once you step over the line, the bowler doesn’t give a (damn) about that.

“It was a tough few days afterwards because I’d built up to that historical first game and failed miserably as an individual. The only good thing is that I knew I’d get another crack at it.”

Meanwhile, Shoaib Bashir helped himself to a flurry of West Indian wickets after hundreds from Joe Root and Harry Brook set up England’s series-clinching 241-run win at Trent Bridge.

Root and Brook reeled off classy centuries to pave the way for a sprint to victory on the fourth night of this second Test.

Chasing an unlikely target of 385, the tourists were demolished for 143 in just 36.1 overs as rookie spinner Bashir claimed five for 41.

The 20-year-old, who did not get a single over in the first Test at Lord’s, justified the selection gamble that saw him fast-tracked ahead of the established Jack Leach this summer as he took the role of fourth-innings finisher.