When Ireland announced their Test squad for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh, few names generated as much excitement as Cade Carmichael’s. For the 23-year-old batter, the call-up marks the culmination of a season that has seen him dominate across formats and levels, blending domestic consistency with glimpses of international class.

Carmichael’s maiden Test inclusion comes after he was declared fit following a concussion injury sustained during the All-Ireland T20 Cup earlier this year, a setback that briefly thwarted what had been a seamless run of form. However, his return to full fitness couldn’t have been more emphatic.

The right-hander is now one of five potential debutants for Bangladesh Tests, having spent the past year building a strong case for national selection. His 124-run knock for Ireland Wolves against Afghanistan A in April in Abu Dhabi underlined his temperament for the longer format. An innings that majorly propelled his candidature for selection. While in his ODI debut against the West Indies in May, Carmichael scored a confident 48 in one of his two innings that he got to bat.

Back home in domestic competitions Carmichael’s rise has been remarkable. Turning out for Instonians, he enjoyed a prolific domestic season, winning both the T20 Cup and the NCU Premier League, while becoming the first player to cross the 1000-run mark across competitions. His century for Northern Knights in his last List A appearance, a fluent 105, added another highlight to a season that already featured eight centuries. His effective right-arm medium pace bowling is certainly an advantage that cannot be ignored.

Those numbers, selectors say, speak for themselves but more importantly, they reveal a player refining his craft and redefining his role.

“This year I’ve kind of transitioned into more opening the batting,” Carmichael told Cricket Ireland.

“In previous years I would be more middle order-ish, so I think I’m more comfortable against the swinging ball and pace now. I haven’t changed too much technically it’s just been about confidence and time in the middle.”

That transition from a middle-order stroke-maker to a dependable top-order presence, has been at the heart of his breakthrough. In a domestic system that continues to produce technically gifted players, Carmichael’s season stood out for its balance between flair and control.

As Ireland prepare for what promises to be a challenging tour of Bangladesh, the young opener will likely find himself facing not only quality pacers and world class spinners in helpful conditions but also a partisan home crowd. And that's when the composure that surrounds him will perhaps come to test on how he approaches the game off the field too.