The Ireland women’s team led by skipper Gaby Lewis were last involved in a white-ball bilateral series against Bangladesh, where the hosts swept the ODI series 3-0, before Ireland bounced back, inflicting the same white-wash in a dominating fashion in the T20I format.
In their upcoming assignment, the Gaby Lewis-led side will be up against India in a bilateral series for the first time ever at the international level. The Women in Blue will be hosting Ireland for a three-match ODI series from 10th January 2025 (Friday) to 15th January 2025 (Wednesday). Ireland recently named their squad for the ODI series with the exciting 19-year-old keeper-batter missing out due to injury.
Keeper-batter Amy Hunter is one of Irish cricket’s most promising and brightest upcoming talents. She has scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 83.80 and a decent average of 27.71 in 31 innings since making her ODI debut on 5th December 2021 against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. Her tally of runs includes 5 half-centuries and a century. Her best performance with the bat in the format came on 11th October 2021, when she scored an unbeaten 121*(127 balls) with the bat in the 4th ODI against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. She was also awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational match-winning innings.
Ahead of their India tour, it is confirmed that a foot injury has pushed her to the sidelines, putting curtains on her participation in the upcoming ODI series against India. “Amy is a big loss, while just 19 years old, she has already amassed 74 caps under her belt – but we have worked hard at developing and preparing a wider pool of players to manage the step up to the international stage, and are confident in our squad,” expressed Ireland women’s head coach Ed Joyce on Amy Hunter’s unfortunate injury, also backed the talented pool of players to deliver on the big stage.
The young 20-year-old wicket-keeper batter Joanna Roisin Loughran has been called up as a replacement in the squad for their first-ever ODI series against India. Loughran made her international debut on 2nd February 2024 against Zimbabwe in the 5th T20I at the Harare Sports Club.
Ireland’s squad for ODI series against India:
Gaby Lewis (C), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Arlene Kelly, Joanna Loughran, Aimee Maguire, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Una Raymond-Hoey, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Stokell
The 22-year-old all-rounder Orla Prendergast is the vice-captain of the side. She played a pivotal role in Ireland’s memorable T20I series white-wash against Bangladesh. She was the leading wicket-taker of the series with 10 wickets at an exceptional average of 5.90 in three innings with the ball for her side. She also chipped in with 54 runs in three innings with the bat in the T20I series. She was also the 2nd highest run-scorer with the bat for Ireland with 83 runs at a decent average of 27.66 in three innings in the ODI series against Bangladesh.
The former Ireland skipper Laura Delany’s resurgence and revival as a bowler, besides being a dependable batter will be a significant boost for Ireland as they gear up to face a tough Indian challenge on their maiden tour to India. She was the joint-leading wicket-taker for Ireland, alongside Aimee Maguire (3 wickets in three innings), with three wickets in a couple of innings with the ball for her side in the ODI series against Bangladesh. She also scored 55 runs in a couple of innings with the bat for her side against Bangladesh in the ODIs.
In the T20I format, she scored 73 runs at a strike rate of 119.67 and a sensational average of 36.50 in three innings with the bat, besides picking up a couple of wickets with the ball in the series against Bangladesh. The veteran 30-year-old bowling all-rounder Arlene Kelly and the 18-year-old off-spinner Freya Sargent are the other few players to watch out for in the upcoming historic ODI series against India.
“Over the coming years, we will be playing a lot in Asia and our ability to adapt quickly is crucial. A shorter three-match tour like this one means we’ll have to be at our best from the first ball,” Ireland’s head coach spoke about the adaptability factor and is vary of the challenge they’ll face as a unit against a formidable Indian team in the upcoming series. The Ireland squad will arrive early in India and will participate in a few practice sessions before the series gets underway on 10th January 2025 (Friday).
India vs Ireland ODI series schedule:
1st ODI – January 10, 11:00 AM IST
2nd ODI – January 12, 11:00 AM IST
3rd ODI – January 15, 11:00 AM IST
*All 3 ODIs will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
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