Matthew Humphreys is counting on home comforts as Ireland prepare to face New Zealand in Belfast in a one-off Test.

The 23-year-old is hoping the conditions at Stormont work in Ireland’s favour with the East Belfast ground a base for many of Heinrich Malan’s squad.

“It’s a home from home really and pretty familiar territory as it’s where the Northern Knights are based,” said Humphreys.  “We know what type of pitches ‘Fluter’ [Phil McCormick] will prepare and we all know the conditions pretty well.

“We beat Zimbabwe there on our last home Test two summers ago and there’s something a little bit special for us lads from Belfast to play in front of our home crowd

“We are looking forward to playing in front of a big attendance. New Zealand are an attractive opponent and it’s the first home international fixture of the summer.”

The 23-year-old has blossomed in recent years following a difficult introduction to international cricket, taking 41 wickets in 29 appearances.

Although he has thrived in T20 internationals, it’s in the Test arena where he feels most confident, having two five-wicket hauls, including a match-winning six for 57 against Zimbabwe last year.

“I just love it. For me it’s definitely the best format. I would have watched a lot of the 2005 Ashes documentary on box set growing up. I followed England growing up as it aligned with our home summer. I really enjoy the tactical nuances of Test cricket and for me it’s what it’s all about.”

That the cerebral nature of Test cricket appeals to Humphreys isn’t surprising, given that he holds a first-class honours degree in Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin.

“I graduated last September, and have taken a year off from studies to concentrate on cricket with a full-time contract and the T20 World Cup earlier in the year.

“I will definitely be getting back into something in the autumn, although I’m not 100% sure exactly what that will entail just yet, keeping my options open.”

He will face a different type of examination against a New Zealand side flying high.

“They’re one of the best teams and currently second in the Test Championship. They have a pretty well settled line-up.

“Obviously Kane Williamson is a pretty big name not just in terms of their team but in world cricket. He would be one of the players you’d be looking to target, but they have a lot of young talent in their ranks that are all worth watching.

“We won’t be targeting anyone specifically, just do our analysis in the lead-up and develop our plans to get these guys out. I guess we are just all looking forward to getting stuck in.”

Humphreys re-joined boyhood club Instonians from Lisburn earlier in the year, and is happy with how the Premiership champions have started the new season.

“I’m good friends with the Knights players Neil Rock, Cian Robertson, Cade Carmichael and Shane Dadswell, so it was an obvious move for me to go back there, and play with a good bunch of lads,

“They play an aggressive, exciting brand of cricket, and Shane’s at the centre of that. He’s pretty explosive in all that he does with both bat and ball.

“The rest try and emulate that and it’s paid off for us so far this season. We try and be as entertaining as possible. We play Pembroke in the Irish Cup second round and it’s a massive fixture and probably the game of the round. It’s a pity it coincides with Test week so the international guys will miss out.”

Humphreys has been warming up for the Test Match by captaining the Northern Strikers in a four-day red-ball game against the Southern Raiders in Dublin. The Emerald Challenge hasn’t really captured the imagination of players or supporters in the past, but he’s hoping a North versus South rebrand ignites more of an interest.

“That was the big feedback from the players about these warm-up matches in the past.

“We wanted identity in the games. North v South battles have been the basis of Irish cricket for a long time. These matches need to be as competitive as possible and North versus South gives it that extra edge. It was an obvious option and four-day cricket is a challenge in itself.

“The fact that there are potentially one or two places up for grabs in the Test squad is the extra cherry on top for the fixture.”

Given Humphreys form, he is almost certain to be one of the names on that Ireland Test sheet.