Ireland's Paul Stirling will sit out the rest of the ODI series in Namibia after fracturing a finger, a major blow for the visitors.
The one-day international series in Namibia has lost its biggest name. Ireland captain Paul Stirling is out of the final two matches after fracturing his finger, leaving the tourists without their leader on African soil.
Stirling's injury is a real setback for Ireland. He is the skipper and one of the senior figures in the group, and his absence removes both experience and leadership from the dressing room at a crucial stage of the series.
For Namibia, the news shifts the balance of the contest. The hosts have a chance to press home their advantage on home turf against an Ireland side missing its captain, and the remaining fixtures now carry extra intrigue for fans following the action in southern Africa.
Ireland will now have to regroup quickly and find a way to cope without Stirling for the rest of the tour. How long he will be out beyond this series has not been made clear, so the focus for now is on a speedy recovery and a strong response from his teammates.
