As Ireland prepares for “a busy winter and an enormously important 2025,” Ireland Cricket has revealed major changes to the leadership of the senior national women’s team. Seasoned players have been entrusted with additional responsibilities as the team enters a new era.
Laura Delany, Ireland’s most-capped women’s player, has been freed off captaincy duties with Gaby Lewis, her deputy, set to take over as captain across all formats, with Orla Prendergast appointed as the vice-captain.
Laura had her dream come true in 2016 when she took on the leadership role, following her debut in 2010. In July 2021, during a home series against the Netherlands, she set a new milestone, captaining Ireland for the 63rd time and surpassing Isobel Joyce’s record of 62 matches.
“Laura Delany is an icon of Irish cricket having led the national team with distinction for over eight years during a time of great change and challenge. She has been an exceptional leader guiding the team through significant milestones in the evolution of our sport. Her contributions as captain cannot be understated,” praised the National Women’s Selector Ciara O’Brien, hailing invaluable contributions of Laura to the team during her stint as the skipper.
During her tenure, Laura led Ireland from an amateur setup to a professional era, a period highlighted by Ireland’s qualification for the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup after missing the 2020 edition. From 2016 to 2024, she captained Ireland in 77 T20Is, securing 42 wins and facing 34 losses, while in 39 ODIs, her leadership resulted in 11 wins, 25 losses, and one tied game.
The young 23-year-old opening batter Gaby Hollis Lewis will take over as the full-time skipper of Ireland. She became the youngest player at the age of 13 years and 166 days from Ireland to make her T20I debut on 9th September 2014 against South Africa at the Moseley Cricket Club, Solihull. Over the years, she has established herself as one of the prolific run-scorers in the format for her side.
She is currently Ireland’s leading run-scorer in the T20I format with 2,223 runs at a strike rate of 115.72 and an impressive average of 28.50 in 91 innings. Her tally of runs includes 12 half-centuries and a couple of centuries. Her best performance with the bat for her side came on 13th August 2024 against Sri Lanka. She scored a sensational century (119 off 75 balls), her 2nd in the format. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up three wickets in 7 innings with the ball for her side.
She made her ODI debut on 5th August 2016, against South Africa in Dublin. She is currently the 3rd highest run-scorer for her side in the ODI format with 1263 runs at an impressive average of 30.80 in 45 innings for her side. Her tally of runs includes 9 half-centuries so far. Her best performance with the bat for her side in the format came on 9th October 2021 against Zimbabwe when she scored an unbeaten half-century (96* off 129 balls) at Harare. Apart from her exploits with the bat, she has also picked up 10 wickets in 17 innings for her side with the ball so far.
“Gaby, as a cricketer and leader, has continued to grow and improve year-on-year. Her analysis and reading of the game are excellent and her captaincy in Laura’s absence for much of this summer was outstanding. She is ready to take on the role of captain and I’m excited to see where she can take the team in the next few years,” said Ireland Women’s team head coach, Ed Joyce praising the leadership skills of Gaby Lewis and the way she has been developing as a leader over the years.
She became the youngest player to lead Ireland in the ODI format at the age of 21 years and 76 days when she led her side for the first time in the format against South Africa. She has led her side in 7 games, and her first couple of victories as a skipper were memorable as they defeated Sri Lanka in August, followed by England in September, earlier this year. In the T20I format, she led her side in five matches so far, and her first couple of victories as a skipper in the format were memorable, as they managed to defeat South Africa in June 2022, and England for the first time in the format, in September, earlier this year.
The 22-year-old young all-rounder Orla Prendergast has been named as the vice-captain of the side. She also led the side in the absence of the stand-in skipper Gaby Lewis in their recent home series against Sri Lanka in the ODI format in August, earlier this year. She guided her side to a memorable victory in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka.
(Quotes sourced from Cricket Ireland Press Release)
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