Cricket Ireland announced the winners of the Irish Cricket Awards for 2021 on Friday, 25th February 2022. Opener Gaby Lewis won the International Women’s Player of the Year and Super Series Player of the Year Awards. 16-year-old Amy Hunter won the Emerging Player of the Year Award.
Gaby Lewis, the 20-year-old opener debuted for Ireland at the age of 13 becoming the youngest T20 player and the first international cricketer from 21st Century. Over the last 7 years, she has become one of the most experienced players in the young Irish side. She’s represented Ireland in 22 ODI matches scoring 505 runs at an average of 26.47. In T20s, she has scored 995 runs in 48 matches at a strike rate of 111. In 2021, she scored 325 runs in 10 T20s. She became the first Irish woman to score an international century as she scored an unbeaten 105* against Germany. She made it into the ICC Women’s T20 Team of 2021 becoming the first Irish Cricketer to do so.
Amy Hunter, the 16-year-old prodigy who won the Emerging Player of the Year 2021 Award is the youngest cricketer ever to score a century in international cricket. On 11th October 2021, Hunter celebrated her 16th birthday by scoring her first century against Zimbabwe in the final ODI of the Ireland tour of Zimbabwe. She scored an unbeaten 121 helping Ireland reach 312 in 50 overs. Ireland restricted Zimbabwe for 227 and won the 4 match series 3-1. New into the international scenes, Amy Hunter has scored 128 runs in 5 ODIs. With her best years ahead, Hunter certainly has ample amount of opportunity to grow as a cricketer.
Overall, with the success of Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter, Cricket Ireland is taking positive steps towards the growth of Women’s Cricket in Ireland. These achievements will inspire a lot of young Irish girls to take up the sport of Cricket.
Barbara McDonald, the former Irish right-arm fast bowler was inducted to the Hall of Fame of Cricket Ireland. She represents Ireland in 57 one day internationals and one test match picking up 54 ODI wickets and 4 wickets in the only one test appearance. She represented Ireland in 4 World Cups from 1993 to 2005.
Overall, from historical inspiration through Barbara McDonald to the current success of Laura Delany, Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter, Cricket Ireland is taking positive steps towards the growth of Women’s Cricket in Ireland. These achievements will inspire a lot of young Irish girls to take up the sport of Cricket.
All-Winners at Irish Awards 2021
International Player of the Year – Gaby Lewis
Super Series Player of the Year – Gaby Lewis
Emerging Player of the Year – Amy Hunter
Club Player of the Year – Laura Delany
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