While the two formats and teams are very different, Ireland’s white-ball captain knows the confidence of Sunday’s first T20 win over the Proteas could give the Boys in Green an edge.
“Confidence and belief are two big things in cricket, that’s why you can bring that T20 victory into the ODI series,” Stirling said.
“It’s the belief it brings for not only those who played well but everyone on the pitch and the sidelines too. That’s the crux of the situation, so in the future you know you’ve done it before and that bodes well for the future.”
Stirling snapped a disappointing run of personal form with a welcome 52 in the second T20 and will be looking to build on that in his landmark appearance – a remarkable record of longevity that no Irishman or woman can match in any sport.
And at 34 years old, no-one would back against the Belfast man reaching 500 caps before he calls it a day.
The last of the ‘Golden Generation,’ who made his debut in 2008, Stirling has enjoyed famous World Cup victories over England and the West Indies, along with wins over most of the other Test match-playing nations, but Sunday’s 10-run thriller ranks high on the list.
“It was a really good result for us considering we’d made five changes from our World Cup starting XI back in June – which was our best team at the time – so it was special to beat South Africa.
“But the most pleasing part of it was post-victory, the celebration wasn’t hugely jubilant, we didn’t go over the top.
“We had stuck to our processes and eventually that’s what won us the game, and there was a real sign of calmness at the end. When shaking hands it was a case of a job well done rather than this is a huge upset.”
Player-of-the-match Ross Adair, who made a stunning 100, is not in the ODI squad and will fly to South Australia this week to spend the winter playing for Adelaide University, so Stirling will be rejoined by long-time opening partner Andy Balbirnie.
IRELAND: Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker or Neil Rock, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Craig Young, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Fionn Hand.