Paul Stirling

Paul Robert Stirling, born on 3 September 1990 in Dublin, is a leading Irish cricketer and the opening batsman for Ireland, known for his aggressive right-handed batting and occasional off-spin bowling. He was part of Ireland’s first-ever Test match in 2018 and has been a mainstay in all formats since his debut in 2008. Stirling is one of the top run-scorers in T20 internationals globally and holds several records for Ireland, including being the first to score 4,000 and 5,000 ODI runs.

Appointed vice-captain in 2020, Stirling became Ireland’s interim white-ball captain in 2023 following Andrew Balbirnie’s resignation and was confirmed as the permanent limited-overs captain later that year. Under his leadership, Ireland qualified for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Stirling has scored centuries in all three international formats, including a maiden Test century in 2023, and is regarded as a key figure in Irish cricket with a career spanning over 15 years.