Ireland’s Women’s Cricket Team Faces Challenges Ahead of England Series
Ireland’s women’s cricket team is gearing up for a tough challenge as they prepare to take on England in a five-match series next month. However, they will have to do so without their injured captain, Laura Delany, who sustained an ankle injury during the recent one-day series against Sri Lanka in Belfast.
Delany, who holds the distinction of being the team’s first player to reach 200 international appearances, will be sorely missed as she continues her recovery. National women’s selector Ciara O’Brien revealed that Delany’s injury is more serious than initially thought, forcing her to sit out of the upcoming series. In her absence, opener Gaby Lewis will step up to assume the captaincy duties.
Despite the setback, O’Brien expressed confidence in Lewis’s ability to lead the team, citing her previous experience in the role. She acknowledged that Delany’s absence will be felt, particularly in terms of her years of experience and leadership on the field.
The upcoming series against England will consist of three one-day contests at Stormont between 7 and 11 September, followed by two T20 games in Dublin. This will be a crucial test for the Irish team as they look to showcase their skills against a formidable opponent.
In addition to the captaincy change, Ireland has also made some notable additions to their squad. All-rounder Alice Tector has been included in her first T20 squad, while batter Una Raymond-Hoey makes a return after recovering from an injury sustained in the previous T20 series against Sri Lanka.
The ODI squad for the England series includes players such as Alana Dalzell, Sarah Forbes, and Leah Paul, among others. The T20 squad features promising talents like Ava Canning and Christina Coulter Reilly, who will be looking to make an impact on the field.
The schedule for the Ireland v England series has been confirmed, with the matches set to take place at various venues in Ireland. Fans can look forward to exciting cricket action on the following dates:
– 7 September: Ireland v England (1st ODI, Stormont, 10:45)
– 9 September: Ireland v England (2nd ODI, Stormont, 10:45)
– 11 September: Ireland v England (3rd ODI, Stormont, 10:45)
– 14 September: Ireland v England (1st T20, Clontarf, 14:45)
– 15 September: Ireland v England (2nd T20, Clontarf, 14:45)
As the Irish team prepares to face off against England, they will be looking to put their best foot forward and showcase their talent and determination on the field. Despite the absence of their captain, they remain focused and determined to give their all in the upcoming series.