Ireland vs West Indies: Young, Campher Injured – Neill, Doheny Called Up

Ireland Suffer Injury Blows Ahead of West Indies ODIs as Young, Campher Ruled Out

Dublin, 19 May 2025 – In a setback to Ireland’s preparations for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against West Indies, Cricket Ireland has confirmed that senior seamers Craig Young and Curtis Campher have been ruled out due to injuries. Young has suffered a hamstring strain while Campher fractured a finger during a net session, prompting the selectors to call up Jordan Neill and Stephen Doheny as replacements.

The series, set to be played at Clontarf Cricket Club Ground on 21, 23 and 25 May, was already being closely watched due to the number of injuries plaguing the Irish squad. With the withdrawal of two experienced all-format cricketers, the home side will now rely heavily on depth and emerging talent to challenge a powerful West Indies outfit.

Injuries Shake Ireland’s Bowling Plans

Craig Young, 35, sustained his hamstring injury while representing North West Warriors in an Inter-Provincial Cup match. Known for his consistency with the new ball, his absence adds to an already depleted Irish seam bowling unit. With Mark Adair, Graham Hume, Fionn Hand, and now Curtis Campher also unavailable, Ireland’s pace stocks have taken a significant hit ahead of a tough international assignment.

National Men’s Selector Andrew White acknowledged the challenge but struck a defiant tone:

“Our seam attack is heavily impacted, no doubt. But these absences also create opportunities. We’ve been working hard to strengthen our bench and now is the time for young players to show they can deliver on the international stage.”

Campher, 26, injured his finger during training, dealing another blow to Ireland’s balance in the playing XI. He offers a rare skillset with both bat and ball and had been expected to play a key role in the middle overs.

Opportunity Knocks for Jordan Neill and Stephen Doheny

Rising pacer Jordan Neill, who impressed in the Inter-Provincial set-up, has earned a call-up as Young’s replacement. The Munster Reds seamer has steadily built a reputation for his pace and bounce and could make his debut in front of a home crowd if selected.

Joining the squad for the first time since last summer, Stephen Doheny is no stranger to the international set-up. The Merrion batter and wicketkeeper, who represents Munster Reds, will look to make the most of Campher’s absence, especially with his adaptable batting style that fits multiple roles in the top and middle order.

Ireland’s Revised Squad Faces a Depth Test

Led by experienced opener Paul Stirling, Ireland’s ODI squad still includes plenty of seasoned names. The likes of Harry Tector, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, and Lorcan Tucker bring a wealth of batting experience, while Josh Little and Barry McCarthy remain key figures in the bowling attack. But the emphasis now shifts to how the new entrants step up to international intensity against a strong West Indies line-up.

The absence of so many first-choice bowlers also puts pressure on Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, and Liam McCarthy, all relatively new to the ODI stage. The backroom staff, led by the selectors and coaches, will have to make strategic adjustments to compensate for the lack of all-rounders and death-bowling specialists.

West Indies Arrive with Momentum and Firepower

The West Indies Men’s team, captained by Shai Hope, arrived in Dublin last week and are coming off a competitive home series. The squad boasts power-hitters such as Brandon King, Evin Lewis, and Roston Chase, while their bowling attack features rising pacers like Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph.

Their recent form and settled squad give them the edge on paper, especially considering Ireland’s injury concerns. However, Clontarf’s conditions and the familiarity of home turf could help Ireland even the playing field.

Broadcast & Match Details

All three ODIs scheduled on 21, 23, and 25 May will begin at 10:45 AM local time at Clontarf Cricket Club. Fans in Ireland and the UK can watch live on TNT Sports, while other broadcasters include SuperSport (Africa), Fancode (India), and Tapmad (Pakistan).