Anticipation is building in Irish cricketing circles as Cricket Ireland announced its 14-player squads for the upcoming home white-ball series against Zimbabwe Women, scheduled from July 20th to July 28th.
The selection features a blend of seasoned performers and emerging prospects, with The Hills’ Lara McBride earning her maiden senior international call-up following a string of notable performances in the domestic Super Series.
Lara McBride scored 25 runs in four innings with the bat, representing the Scorchers. She also picked up a couple of wickets in six innings with the ball for her side in the tournament.
This series marks the start of a new chapter for Ireland Women, with Lloyd Tennant overseeing his first matches as head coach.
Tennant expressed his eagerness to foster growth: “My aim during the next few weeks and months is to build on the strong foundations already in place, but where possible, look to move our game forward. There are plenty of incredibly talented players here in Ireland, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can progress further over the coming years.”
Gaby Lewis will captain both squads, with the dynamic Orla Prendergast named vice-captain. The standout news is the debut inclusion of 19-year-old off-spinner Lara McBride, who represented Ireland Under-19 at the T20 World Cup earlier this year and has caught the eye with her bowling craft at the domestic level.
National selector Ciara O’Brien hailed the selection as the perfect blend of continuity and fresh opportunity, sharing, “It’s been great to see a first call-up for Lara McBride, who has been working hard on her game. These matches are a crucial lead-in to the all-important T20 World Cup Qualifier in late August.”
Ireland Women’s Squads for Zimbabwe Series:
ODIs:
Gaby Lewis (C), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast
T20Is:
Gaby Lewis (C), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland Women have historically enjoyed dominance over their Zimbabwean counterparts. In T20 Internationals, Ireland boasts an unblemished record, claiming victory in all seven encounters between the sides.
In the ODI format, Ireland holds a commanding 6-1 advantage, with one match finishing as a tie. These statistics will buoy Irish confidence, but the squad and coaching staff are taking nothing for granted as they fine-tune preparations ahead of the crucial T20 World Cup Qualifier next month.
This series not only provides invaluable competitive exposure but also gives Ireland the perfect platform to experiment, inject youth, and sharpen their skills ahead of higher-stakes challenges later in the summer.
With a new coach at the helm, a fresh face in Lara McBride, and a rich blend of experience and promise, supporters can look forward to an enthralling contest and the possibility of setting new standards in Irish women’s cricket.
(Quotes sourced from Ireland Cricket Press Release)
