Ireland is one of the full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and is officially a Test-playing nation. Irish cricket has grown tremendously over the years, step by step, achieving amazing milestones, especially in the shorter formats. The team has put on some great performances in Twenty-20 cricket in recent years. Today we shall name some of their best batters in the T20I format and count the number of fifties scored by them.
1. Paul Stirling
Paul Stirling, the explosive and attacking right-handed batter from Belfast, is the first to feature on our list. At 18, Stirling made his T20 international debut against Pakistan at The Oval in 2009. Since then, he has been one of the leading Irish cricketers in world cricket and has played in 114 T20Is. He has scored 3011 runs with 21 fifties to his name.
2. Andy Balbirine
Second on our list is Andy Balbirine, the current white-ball captain for Ireland and a right-handed batter from Dublin. In 2015, Andy played his first T20I against Scotland at Bready and, until 2022, he has played in 79 matches. He has scored over 1600 runs with seven T20 international half centuries to his name.
3. Kevin O'Brien
Third on the list is Kevin O'Brien, a pioneer and a legend of Irish cricket who mesmerized one and many during his illustrious career. After making his T20I debut in 2008, Kevin featured in 110 matches for Ireland until 2021, scoring close to 2000 runs at an average of 21.21. He also got to his name with six T20I fifties.
4. Lorcan Tucker
Fourth on the list is Lorcan Tucker, a right-handed wicketkeeper batter from Dublin. In 2016, he first played for Ireland in a T20 international against Hong Kong at Bready. Until 2022, he has featured in 42 T20Is, scoring 671 runs at an average of 19.17, including four fifties.
5. Harry Tector
Fifth on our list is Harry Tector, a right-handed middle-order batter from Dublin. Harry is one of the younger generation of cricketers in Ireland who made his T20I debut in 2019 against Scotland at Dublin. Until now, he has appeared in 44 T20Is for Ireland and has scored 768 runs at an average of 24 with three fifties to his name.
6. Gareth Delany
Sixth on the list is Gareth Delany, a young and promising future star for Ireland from Dublin. Gareth plays as a right-handed batter and bowls leg spin, providing the team with great balance. Since making his debut in 2019, he has played in 49 T20Is so far, scoring 733 runs at an average of nearly 20, including three fifties.
7. William Porterfield
Seventh on the list is William Porterfield, a former Ireland captain and a left-handed top-order batter from Londonderry. From 2008 to 2018, William played for Ireland in 61 T20 internationals and amassed 1079 runs at an average of 20.35. He scored three fifties during his T20I career, with the highest score of 72.
8. Gary Wilson
Eighth on the list is Gary Wilson, who was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter for Ireland. In 2008, Gary made his T20 international debut against Scotland at Belfast. He played for Ireland in T20Is till 2020, featuring in a total of 81 matches. He scored over 1200 runs in 68 innings and got to his name with three half-centuries as well.
9. James Shannon
Ninth on the list is James Shannon, a right-handed middle-order batter from Belfast. Shannon started playing for Ireland in T20 internationals in 2013 when he first played against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. Until 2018, he had played in eight T20Is for Ireland and had scored 111 runs, including a fifty.
10. Ed Joyce
Tenth on the list is Ed Joyce, a left-handed top-order batter from Dublin who made his debut for Ireland in T20I cricket in 2012. Joyce first played for England on the international stage but then came back to his native team. He played in 16 T20Is and scored 404 runs at an average of 36.72 with a single fifty to his name.
