Injured Stirling flies home as Ireland seek turnaround in Namibia

Ireland captain Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the rest of his side's tour to Namibia with a broken finger. Tim Tector has been flown in as a replacement, while Lorcan Tucker will take over as captain.

Ireland won the first of five ODIs in Windhoek by 55 runs last Thursday, but find themselves 2-1 down after back-to-back defeats. They were bowled out for 290 chasing 322 on Saturday, and lost by 63 runs in Tuesday's third ODI despite Curtis Campher's century.

Stirling, 36, was injured while fielding in the third ODI, and was unable to bat in Ireland's run chase.

"Fielding at short cover, he dived for a low catch from a full-blooded cut shot from Jan Frylinck which hit his fingertip and caused the break," Cricket Ireland said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

"A hospital assessment yesterday evening confirmed the injury and Stirling will now return home for recovery and rehabilitation," the statement added.

Tucker took over from Stirling as Ireland's T20I captain after their exit from the T20 World Cup earlier this year, and oversaw their shock 2-0 series win over world champions India in June. He has never previously captained in an ODI, though took over when Stirling was injured on Tuesday.

Tector, whose older brother Harry is a key player for Ireland, has won eight T20I caps for Ireland but is yet to make his ODI debut. He will arrive in Namibia ahead of the fourth ODI on Friday, and will stay in southern Africa for the Ireland Wolves's tour to Zimbabwe thereafter.

There was better news for Ireland's women on Wednesday, as Orla Prendergast was bought for INR 30 lakh (€28,000 approx.) by Gujarat Giants in the WPL auction. Prendergast will became the second Irish player - after Kim Garth - and the first active Ireland international to play in the WPL.