Ireland chose to bowl v Zimbabwe
Debutant Neil Rock will get the opportunity to show his wicketkeeping skills first after Irish captain Andy Balbirnie chose to field under blue skies in Clontarf. Rock is expected to bat in the middle order, alongside South African-born allrounder Curtis Campher, who also makes his first international appearance in this format today.
Ireland have stuck with the combination of Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien at the top, despite O'Brien's poor form against South Africa, and will likely use George Dockrell in the top six. Dockrell also provides a spin-bowling option with Simi Singh's offbreaks and Ben White's legspin adding variation. Mark Adair is out of the XI as he recovers from back spasms, but Ireland have three seam bowlers in Shaun Getkate, Craig Young and Barry McCarthy.
Zimbabwe are without Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor for the opening match. Williams and Raza only arrived in Ireland six days after the rest of the squad, and will be part of the ODI plans with Williams due to take a break thereafter, but Taylor was left out. Regis Chakbva and Craig Ervine were the two experienced players in the top five with Tendai Chatara the most experienced among the bowlers.
Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling, 2 Kevin O'Brien, 3 Andy Balbirnie, 4 Curtis Campher, 5 George Dockrell 6 Neil Rock (wk), 7 Shaun Getkate, 8 Simi Singh, 9 Craig Young, 10 Barry McCarthy, 11 Ben White
Zimbabwe: 1. Wessley Madhevere, 2. Tadiwanashe Marumani, 3. Regis Chakabva (wk), 4. Dion Myers, 5 Craig Ervine (capt), 6. Milton Shumba, 7 Ryan Burl, 8 Luke Jongwe, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Tendai Chatara, 11 Richard Ngarava
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent
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