International

Matthew was a surprise selection to many for the 2023 tours to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but anyone who saw his form at the preceding Under-19s Men’s World Cup would not be as surprised. Humphreys was equal-ninth highest wicket taker for the tournament with 11 wickets at 22.36, and an economy rate of just 4.39. Impressed in Ireland’s maiden home test victory in July and performed well in the shorter formats against South Africa in Abu Dhabi in October.

Matthew has had two steady seasons for the Northern Knights in the Inter-Provincial Series, picking up wickets at an economical rate – but it’s not just his execution as a spinner that has interested Irish selectors, but that he offers a left-arm variation to the attack that has helped mark him out as a ‘point of difference’.