Neil Rock was the notable absence in the Northern Knights 19-man squad announced ahead of the start of the interpro season at the start of June.
The 25=year-old had lost his Ireland contract and has pulled the pin on his interprovincial career too. The Dubliner will continue to play league cricket in the NCU with champions Instonians, for whom he was such a pivotal player ilast season.
It seems a waste of talent for 'Pebbles' who won 28 caps since his debut in 2021, but struggled with the step up to international cricket.
He was more successful at interpro level, playing 81 times and scoring 1399 runs with five fifties and a hundred.
There's a new captain for the Knights with Matthew Humphreys - one of eight capped players in the squad - taking over the reins from Mark Adair.
Humphreys is one of four Instonians players in the squad, alongside Cade Carmichael, Cian Robertson and the most interesting inclusion in the line-up, Shane Dadswell.
The South African is now residing in Ireland and is keen to play international cricket once qualified, The seam bowler and hard-hitter is certainly a point of difference player.
Waringstown have no fewer than five reps in the squad - the Topping brothers, Tom Mayes, Matthew Foster and James McCollum, while there are a trio from CSNI, namely Jordan Neill, Adam Leckey and Harry Dyer.
The only 'outsider' in the squad is Ireland U19 international Reuben Wilson, with the Clontarf speedster allocated to the Knights after winning a senior contract.
The Knights will be keen to end Leinster's domination of the series, which is now back to three teams following Munster's axing.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Simon Johnston
Last year: 3rd in the IP50 Cup and 2nd in the IP20 Trophy
Total titles: 4
Ross Adair (Lisburn)
Paul Stirling
Cade Carmichael (Instonians)
Sam Topping (Waringstown)
Morgan Topping (Waringstown)
Tom Mayes (Waringstown)
Mark Adair (Lisburn)
Jordan Neill (CSNI)
Matthew Humphreys (Instonians)
Matthew Foster (Waringstown)
Reuben Wilson (Clontarf)
Cian Robertson (Instonians)
Shane Dadswell (Instonians)
Carson McCullough (CI)
Adam Leckey (CSNI)
Kian Hilton (North Down)
Charles Swart (CI)
James McCollum (Waringstown)
Harry Dyer (CSNI)
