In a standout campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026, Ireland, led by skipper Gaby Lewis, clinched second place on the points table with 6 points from 5 games, including 3 victories, securing their spot alongside Scotland, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 from June 12 to July 5. Wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter, just 20, contributed 111 runs at a blistering strike rate of 132.14 and an average of 37 across four innings, finishing as Ireland’s fourth-highest scorer.
Since her T20I debut against Scotland in May 2021, she has amassed 1,503 runs in 59 innings at 114.47 strike rate and 30.67 average, boasting 5 half-centuries and two centuries, including a match-winning 114* (67 balls, 17 boundaries) against Germany in August 2025. Her ODI record shines too: 1,130 runs in 40 innings at 85.86 strike rate and 30.54 average, with 7 fifties and a century.
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Many congratulations on Ireland’s T20 World Cup qualification. What does this moment mean to you at this stage of your young career?
Amy Hunter: It means a massive amount to me, and the girls as a whole. I think, since we last qualified for the 2023 World Cup, we’ve been desperate to qualify for another, and things just haven’t quite gone our way in the qualifying tournaments, so, yeah, it’s amazing to get across the line in this one.
Let’s rewind to your record as the youngest international centurion at 16. When did that really sink in?
Amy Hunter: I think it definitely took a while. I don’t know if it has actually sunk in quite yet. I think it’s something I’m hugely proud of, and I probably hadn’t achieved what I thought I was capable of, early in my career, so I think to do that, kind of assured me that I was good enough to play international cricket. So, that was something I was very proud of.
Did that innings change expectations around you?
Amy Hunter: I think yes and no. I always had quite high expectations of myself, coming onto the international scene, but previous to that, I’d been disappointed with how I’d gone. So, that kind of just reassured me that I was good enough to play in international cricket. I suppose it just gave me a lot of confidence going forward.
You were also ICC Player of the Month; how do you stay calm after such recognitions?
Amy Hunter: As a person, I’m pretty calm, and relaxed so I think that definitely helps but I think, I’m just, pretty hungry to keep getting better and as a team, we’re very hungry to just keep getting better so I think, the kind of support the girls give each other, like that really helps.
Who’s the toughest Irish bowler to keep to, and why?
Amy Hunter: I always find Laura Delany pretty hard to wicket-keep, just because she nips it both ways. It’s probably one of my least favourites to wicket-keep to.
Taking over as first-choice keeper after Mary Waldron, how do you handle that responsibility?
Amy Hunter: It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I think that kind of learning from Mary Waldron was such a great help, early in my career and then to be given the role full-time is something I’m super grateful for, and I think I’ve definitely grown into it. I think at the start it was pretty daunting, with all the things that came with it, but no, I think I’m definitely growing into it.
You missed the U19 World Cup 2025 due to injury. How tough was that mentally?
Amy Hunter: It was pretty heartbreaking. I think it was just before the tournament and obviously, we were, playing against India first, followed by the (Under) 19s so it was pretty tough to take at the time, but I think that gave me a really good rehab block, and then got up and running again in the 50-over qualifiers so, at the time it was very tough, but, I suppose, I would like to think all these things happen for a reason.
You’ve captained at the U19 level. Do you see leadership in your future?
Amy Hunter: Yeah, I think potentially. I don’t think it’s something I’ve thought a huge amount about. I think in the Under-19 role, I grew a lot. I think it was something I ended up really enjoying, and kind of taking up the responsibility on the pitch, which I absolutely loved. But, for the time being, I’m kind of just trying to focus on my batting and wicket-keeping and see what the future holds.
Keeping an eye on India’s WPL? Any franchise you’d love to join?
Amy Hunter: I think a lot of the girls have been following that most evenings, which has been some very good watching, but yeah, very open to franchise cricket. I’d love to play as much as I can, just to keep developing my game.
With the 2029 ODI World Cup expanding, how does that motivate Ireland?
Amy Hunter: Massively. I think, as a group, we probably feel we should have qualified for the previous one-day World Cup (13th edition). A couple of games, we lost at pivotal moments. But I suppose that’s a part of the game. That expansion will definitely help us, and hopefully, yeah, we can be a part of that.
One message for your teammates and Irish fans ahead of the T20 World Cup?
Amy Hunter: I think it’s just such an unbelievable opportunity to keep growing the sport. I think with it just being across the water in England, obviously, very close to Ireland, I think it’s an unbelievable opportunity and hopefully, we can create a really good atmosphere there.
Advice for young players facing early pressure?
Amy Hunter: I think in terms of pressure, I just like to stick to my plans and my processes, and I suppose I just like to keep being super attacking, and nearly just running towards that pressure. I think it’s very easy to go into your shell, but if you can continue to attack and put pressure on the opposition, I think it definitely stands you in good stead.
What kind of player do you want to be remembered as?
Amy Hunter: I’d say I’d like to be remembered as someone who’s pretty fearless. Bats attackingly and takes the game on and then wicket-keeping-wise, I suppose a good keeper. I think just all-round I’d like to be remembered as someone that’s pretty fearless and really takes the game on.
Final message to the other 13 World Cup teams?
Amy Hunter: I think I’d just say that the girls are in a very good spot. Obviously, we’ve lost some big games in these qualifiers, but I think we’re off the back of a very good training block and hopefully we get a bit of time off and then, yeah, have another really good training block leading up to that World Cup, and I think we’ll be in a good spot to compete there.
Amy Hunter emerges as Ireland’s beacon of fearless cricket, her words radiating maturity beyond her 20 years, blending explosive batting with sharp glovework. As Ireland eyes upsets in England and Wales, Hunter’s hunger promises fireworks.
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