Ireland coach graham ford has underscored the importance of a quick acclimatization after Irish selectors announced 14-man squads for the limited overs tour of the Caribbean next month.

Both the one-day and twenty20 international squads – described by ford as “a blend of experience and youth” – will be led for the first time by stroke-maker Andrew Balbirnie who last month replaced the long-serving William Porterfield as test and one-day skipper, and has now taken over from Gary Wilson as t20 captain.

With only one warm-up match before the six-match series against West Indies, ford said his side needed to hit the ground running.

Ireland clash with West Indies in an ODI doubleheader at Kensington oval in Barbados on January 7 and again two days later, before playing the finale in Grenada on January 12.

Grenada’s national stadium will also host the opening t20 international on January 15 before the series concludes at Warner Park in St Kitts with a weekend doubleheader on January 18 and 19.

In their only previous meeting in a bilateral ODI series, Ireland went down by four wickets to the ‘Windies in a one-off match in Jamaica five years ago.

Overall, Ireland have beaten West Indies only once in 10 one-day meetings, losing seven.

On the 2014 tour, Ireland split the two-match T20 series.