The Ireland women’s cricket team, led by their new captain, Gaby Lewis, is ready to take on Bangladesh in a six-match multi-format series. The tour marks the first time in a decade that Ireland women will face Bangladesh in their home territory, and they are set to play three ODIs and three T20Is from November 27 to December 9, with live streaming available on the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s YouTube channel.
Lewis, confirmed as Ireland’s permanent captain just last month, will lead an impressively young squad with an average age below 23 years, despite this the team boasts significant experience, including seven players with over 50 international caps. Lewis herself has an impressive record, with 137 matches across formats and a career total of 3,486 runs. In addition to her batting prowess, she’s proven to be a reliable part-time bowler, with 13 wickets to her name.
Head coach Ed Joyce, excited about the depth and balance of the squad, stated, “It’s probably the toughest selection we’ve ever had – and I think that’s a really positive thing. One of the objectives when I took over the job was to try and build depth in the group. If you’re making selection difficult it’s a good sign of progress. The players are all hungry to get into the team, so there were some difficult phone calls there to make.”
Ireland’s youthful yet experienced squad will include Laura Delany, who returns from injury to strengthen the middle order. Joyce highlighted the impact of her return, stating, “Obviously, welcoming back Laura Delany from injury will make a massive difference to that middle order. Her experience and quality across both formats is key, but she also balances the team beautifully for us in terms of her being able to bowl – so it gives us a chance to play an extra batter, if needed.”
Ireland, ranked 11th in ODIs and 10th in T20Is, is set to face a strong Bangladesh side ranked 8th in ODIs and 9th in T20Is. The teams last met in 2022, with Bangladesh holding the upper hand in head-to-head statistics: Bangladesh has won 8 out of 11 T20I encounters against Ireland, who have secured 3 wins, while in ODIs, Bangladesh has claimed 4 victories to Ireland’s 1, with 2 matches ending without a result.
Despite this, Ireland has made impressive strides recently, drawing T20I series against both Sri Lanka and England (1-1 in each). With a total of 125 T20Is played, Ireland has won 52, and in ODIs, where they’ve played 179 matches, they’ve also clinched 52 victories. Their recent achievements include a landmark ODI series win over Sri Lanka (2-1) and a historic victory against England, which helped them avoid a series whitewash.
Ireland’s women’s squads for the upcoming Bangladesh series showcase a series of strategic changes in comparison to their last squad, adding fresh energy and experience to the lineups.
From the ODI squad for England, players like Alana Dalzell, Joanna Loughran, and Rebecca Stokell make way, while Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, and Cara Murray step in for the Bangladesh series, promising an exciting blend of talent.
Ireland Women ODI Squad for Bangladesh Tour:
Gaby Lewis (C), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Una Raymond-Hoey, Freya Sargent, Alice Tector
Similarly, in the T20I squad, Laura Delany and Cara Murray join the lineup for Bangladesh, with Alice Tector moving out after the recent England series. These adjustments highlight Ireland’s focused approach, carefully balancing seasoned players and new faces.
Ireland Women T20I Squad for Bangladesh Tour:
Gaby Lewis (C), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Una Raymond-Hoey, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stokell
The Ireland women’s tour of Bangladesh will kick off with three ODIs: the first match on November 27, followed by the second on November 30, and the third on December 2, all at Mirpur with a 10:00 am local start time. The action will then shift to Sylhet for three T20Is, beginning with the first match on December 5 at 2:00 pm, the second on December 7 at 2:00 pm, and concluding with the third T20I on December 9 at 10:00 am, local time.
(Quotes sourced from Cricket Ireland)
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