The Ireland Wolves squad has arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of a five-week tour that will see them play a seven-match series against Sri Lanka A. Alongside captain Harry Tector there are six other Northern Knights players who will be involved with the Wolves in Sri Lanka: Mark Adair, James Cameron Dow, Shane Getkate, James McCollum, Neil Rock, and James Shannon.

Speaking about the challenge ahead Captain Harry Tector said:
"I think we should go into the red ball series with confidence - we have some very good red ball players in the squad. We have a quick turnaround before our first game and we'll have to be ready - but I feel we can do that. During the two red ball games, we'll look to put pressure on them and look to win those key moments in each game. As for the rest of the tour, we'll take that when it comes, but right now our focus is fully on the four-day games."

Tector is keen to ensure his role is more than just on-field leadership:
"The captain's role off the field while on tour is really about making sure everyone's getting on OK. Being away on tour, it can at times be quite a lonely time, especially if you're going through a low patch with the bat or ball. My role is to make sure that everyone's in good spirits, getting rest between games or taking some time out for an excursion or just to relax by the pool."

"We have quite a young squad on the whole, but it'll be very exciting to see some of the younger guys get on like Jonathan (JJ) Garth, Stephen Doheny and Neil Rock - they have the talent, so hopefully they can hit the ground running when they get out there. It should be a great five weeks experience for all."

Tector's last three months have been an exciting time personally, playing club cricket in Sydney, attending a batting camp in India and being offered a central player contract for the first time. He said:

"I loved Sydney and playing with Randwick-Petersham. I certainly learned a lot about my game, scored some runs and probably matured a bit personally as well. Then Bangalore was brilliant spending ten days where you could just focus on your own game and learning from some of the older guys like William Porterfield. To be able to just pick someone's brain like that was highly enjoyable. I learnt loads about my game against spin, which will hopefully come in handy here in Sri Lanka, and definitely in the future as well."

"The central contract offer was brilliant, and a bit of a surprise when I was told. Has it put more pressure on me? Not really, no more than the pressure I put on myself already. I'm still pretty young and still learning a lot about my game so I see it as a bit of a confidence boost in the sense that hopefully I'm doing things right, going in the right direction."

About the Ireland Wolves

The Ireland Wolves team was created in 2017 to bridge the gap between domestic first class and international cricket. The squad recently completed an eight-match series against Bangladesh A in Ireland, which followed on from a tour to Bangladesh made by the Wolves in 2017.

Ireland Wolves tour schedule

• 1 January 2019 - Two-day warm-up match (MCG Katunayake)
• 5 January 2019 - 1st Four-day match v Sri Lanka A (SSC Colombo)
• 13 January 2019 - 2nd Four-day match v Sri Lanka A (MRICS - Hambantota)
• 19 January 2019 - 1st One-Day match v Sri Lanka A (MRICS - Hambantota)
• 21 January 2019 - 2nd One-Day match v Sri Lanka A (MRICS - Hambantota)
• 24 January 2019 - 3rd One-Day match v Sri Lanka A (SSC Colombo)
• 26 January 2019 - 4th One-Day match v Sri Lanka A (SSC Colombo)
• 29 January 2019 - 5th One-Day match v Sri Lanka A (RPICS - Colombo)
• 30 January 2019 - Ireland Wolves depart

Ireland Wolves squads (Northern Knights players highlighted in bold)

Red ball matches

• Mark Adair
• James Cameron-Dow
• Stephen Doheny
• Jonathan (JJ) Garth
• Aaron Gillespie
• Josh Little
• Barry McCarthy
• James McCollum 
• Neil Rock
• James Shannon
• Harry Tector (captain)
• Jack Tector
• Lorcan Tucker
• Craig Young

White ball matches

• Mark Adair
• James Cameron-Dow
• Gareth Delany
• Jonathan (JJ) Garth
• Shane Getkate
• Josh Little
• Barry McCarthy
• James McCollum
• Neil Rock
• James Shannon
• Harry Tector (captain)
• Jack Tector
• Stuart Thompson
• Lorcan Tucker 
• Craig Young