MATTHEW HOLLARD

The 27-year-old couldn’t have asked for a better international debut – receiving his cap in the first T20I against India in Stormont in June 2026 – a match that saw him dismiss Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar, to finish with match-winning figures of 3/28 and the Player of the Match award. He followed that up with another 3-wicket spell in the second T20I that Ireland won by 1 run to wrap up a historic series win against the reigning T20 World champions. It wasn’t a surprise at all to see the Guardians go for Hollard. A right-arm medium-fast bowler who has quickly emerged as one of Ireland's exciting pace prospects after earned his international cap thanks to consistent performances in domestic cricket. Known for generating steep bounce and bowling disciplined lengths, he has shown the ability to keep batters under pressure with his accuracy and work ethic. Surrounded by experienced campaigners in the Guardians dressing room, the ETPL offers Hollard another platform to accelerate his development at the highest level.