Double Injury Blow For Ireland Ahead Of Tour

Max Sorensen has been ruled out of Ireland's forthcoming acclimatisation tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The 28 year-old Hills paceman suffered a wrist injury against Scotland in the one-day international series last week, and a scan has revealed a fracture in his right wrist which will keep him out of action for 6-8 weeks.

Gloucestershire seamer Graeme McCarter replaces Sorensen in the squad.

There was further bad news on the injury front from Cricket Ireland as it announced that Paul Stirling is suffering with a back problem and wouldn't be travelling with the rest of the squad next week.

The Middlesex all-rounder is being referred to a specialist and his recovery and participation in the tour will be monitored in the coming weeks. There is no plan to replace him in the touring party at this stage.

"It's obviously bitterly disappointing for Max (Sorensen) to miss out on the tour which is so vital to our World Cup preparations, but it gives Graeme a great chance to impress after he just missed out on the initial selection," said Cricket Ireland head coach Phil Simmons.

"Paul Stirling missed Middlesex's match at Somerset this week with a back injury which hasn't responded to treatment as well as he'd like. We'll know more about his prognosis when he sees the specialist, but felt it best that he recuperates in the UK before making a final decision on his involvement on the tour."

Ireland leave for their eight match tour next Tuesday (September 23) and will play two games apiece against Queensland Bulls and New South Wales Second XI in Australia, before matches in New Zealand against Northern Districts, a New Zealand XI, Canterbury and Otago.

IRELAND SQUAD

William Porterfield (capt), (Warwickshire), Andrew Balbirnie (Middlesex), Peter Chase (Durham), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Graeme McCarter (Gloucestershire), John Mooney (North County), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Leicestershire), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Stuart Poynter (Durham), Paul Stirling* (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton) , Andrew White (Instonians), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Craig Young (Bready).