Paul Stirling ruled out of final two Namibia ODIs with fractured finger

Ireland captain Paul Stirling will miss the remaining two matches of the one-day international series in Namibia after fracturing a finger, BBC Sport reported. The injury removes the opening batter from a five-match contest in which Ireland trail 2-1, leaving head coach Gary Wilson without his skipper as the visitors try to overturn the deficit.

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Stirling, 36, was injured while fielding during Tuesday’s third ODI. He was subsequently unable to bat in Ireland’s innings as Namibia completed a victory that put them ahead in the series. His absence is now confirmed for both remaining fixtures, rather than just the match in which he was hurt; the BBC report did not specify a longer-term recovery timetable.

Tim Tector has been called up as Stirling’s replacement. The brother of Ireland middle-order batter Harry Tector has not yet played an ODI, although he has represented the side eight times in Twenty20 internationals. His average in that format is 17. The call-up brings him into the squad without guaranteeing that he will make his one-day international debut during the final two games.

Ireland also lose a batter who had contributed half-centuries in each of the opening two matches in Windhoek. Stirling scored 56 and 77 in those games before the finger injury prevented him from taking part with the bat on Tuesday. Those performances preceded the setback that has ended his involvement in the series with two fixtures still to be played.

The visitors began the contest with a win on 22 October, but Namibia have since recorded successive victories by 31 and 63 runs. That sequence has reversed Ireland’s early advantage and left them needing to respond in both remaining matches to win the series. The first opportunity to do so comes on Friday, before the concluding fixture on Sunday.

Beyond the immediate series result, the tour is serving as preparation for Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign next year, according to the BBC. Wilson must now complete that assignment in Namibia without Stirling, with Tector’s addition providing a replacement for the injured captain.