Ireland would have a “Christmas Eve-like feeling” when they get ready for the three-match ODI series versus England after anxious moments during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Irishmen will be leaving for Southampton — venue of all the three matches in a bio-secure bubble — on Saturday via special chartered flight. The first game is on July 30.

The series will also mark the resumption of ODI cricket, apart from being Ireland’s first fixtures in the World Cup Super League qualification process for the 2023 World Cup.

“I am definitely excited. The series has got a Christmas Eve feel about it. Playing international cricket against the world champions gives us an opportunity to prove ourselves,” said captain Andrew Balbirnie during a video conference on the sidelines of the e-launch of Ireland’s jersey sponsor on Friday.

“We weren’t sure we were going to get that at the start of the summer, but work done by the England Cricket Board and Cricket Ireland has been amazing.

“It will be the first ODI series since lockdown. All eyes will be on us and it’s my job to make sure we have 14 guys ready to win games of cricket for Ireland,” Balbirnie added.

The ongoing England-West Indies Test series, being held in a bio-secure environment, also gives Ireland a bit of confidence to travel and concentrate on their job ahead.

“It is challenging and unique going into a bio-secure bubble. But having watched the Tests between England and the West Indies gives us confidence.

“At the end of the day, it boils down to our skills and how we execute them during the matches there,” Balbirnie, who has played three Tests, 67 ODIs and 43 T20Is, said.