Backing Green? Meet Ireland’s World Cup Squad

With Ireland’s World Cup campaign just days away from starting, here is summary of their squad. Beating Australia in a warm up match, Ireland are a threat at this World Cup and will capitalise off complatency. Having played the likes of Australia and Pakistan in the past 12 months, the squad knows how to take on a challenge. Are you backing green?

Ireland secured qualification, beating Zimbabwe by 4 runs © Belfast News Letter

Laura Delany (Captain)

Laura Delany will be leading Ireland at their first T20 World Cup since 2018. After being appointed captain in 2016, Delany has broken the captaincy record for Ireland women and leads from the front having almost scored 1000 IT20 runs and has taken over 50 IT20 wickets.

The skipper found good form against Pakistan, taking 3/20 in their final T20 and has been a consistent member of the side since her debut in 2010. Delany also held her nerve as she bowled the final over in their match against Zimbabwe to ensure qualification for this World Cup.

Georgina Dempsey

18-year-old Georgina Dempsey is set to play at her second ICC World Cup. Featuring in the recent, U19 Women’s World Cup, Dempsey excelled, scoring a half-century against Indonesia and took 3 wickets across the tournament.

The medium-pacer made her international senior debut in the summer of 2021 but has already played against teams such as South Africa, Australia and the West Indies.

Amy Hunter

The youngest ODI centurion, Irish Times and Sport Ireland Sportswoman for October 2021, and U19 Ireland captain; these are just some of the many accolades that 17-year-old Amy Hunter has to her name. Hunter has been an extraordinary break-through talent for Ireland and still has plenty more years to play international cricket.

Despite still being young, she thrives under the pressure, one of her highlights being the crunch match against Zimbabwe in their World Cup qualifier.

I think well for me personally I just really wanted to have an impact on the game, score a couple of runs and just have a big impact in the field but those are the games you grow up wanting to play in and so I actually really enjoyed it and I kind of really enjoyed the pressure that came with it and thankfully it went our way

Belfast-born Hunter has scored over 500 international runs, only debuting in 2021 — her most notable performance being her century on her 16th birthday to become the youngest cricketer, male or female, to score a century in an ODI match.

Last year on my birthday we were playing and I’m now the youngest player to get a hundred. I think it was more just relief than anything else. I hadn’t really got many runs up until that point so I was taking them while I could. At the time I didn’t really recognise it!

Senior teammate, Mary Waldron spoke about her century and the talent she saw in her from such a young age.

We certainly celebrated her 16th birthday for her! She was on the cokes but yeah you couldn’t have written it out! In the Super Threes Competition, Amy’s played in that since she was maybe 11 or 12 and she played on my team. I always remember she used to hit the ball over mid-off and that’s such a rarity in women’s cricket let alone for that age group

Shauna Kavanagh

One of many international players whose journey started at Pembroke Cricket Club, Shauna Kavanagh has risen through the ranks in Irish cricket to make her debut in 2011.

Kavanagh is one of the most experienced members in quite a young side, having featured a previous ICC tournaments including the 2018 World Cup and is a reliable middle to lower order batter.

Arlene Kelly

New Zealand-born Arlene Kelly is another recent addition to the Ireland squad. Growing up in New Zealand, Kelly played for Auckland's senior side for 10 years and ended up making her international debut after visiting family in Ireland.

I was involved in the Super Series competition, I was able to string together a couple of performances and then due to injury an opportunity came about to be involved in the Irish setup and I haven’t looked back

International cricket has been a smooth transition with Kelly taking 21 wickets in 16 IT20 matches, notably taking 3/17 against Bangladesh in a T20. Kelly was also a recipient of Ireland’s first professional contracts — a huge step for the growth of the game.

It’s been huge and probably up until this point it had been like trying to manage two full-time jobs. We’re up in the morning go to the gym do a full day’s work, go to cricket training so I think the time to do those small one percenters. I think they have made a massive difference and I feel extremely fortunate and privileged to be in a position to take up one of those contracts

Gaby Lewis

Gaby Lewis is one of the most recognisable names in Ireland’s squad. Aged 13, Lewis made her international debut and has since scored over 2000 runs and has an IT20 century to her name. Cricket is in Lewis’ DNA as her grandfather, father and sister have all accumulated international caps.

The 21-year-old has been a trailblazer for Irish cricket being the only female Irish player to feature in the Hundred (for Southern Brave and Northern Superchargers) and also played for the Southern Vipers in the 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Teammate, Mary Waldron spoke about Gaby’s talent.

Gaby’s a superstar really — she can hold her own at any level so it was a great opportunity for her but I think that’ll throw up more opportunities for players coming through

A product of YMCA Cricket Club, Gaby earned her 100th international cap for Ireland, scoring 92 in a victory over the Netherlands.

Louise Little

Louise Little also hails from a family of cricketers. With brother, Josh Little making a name for himself in franchise and international cricket, Louise is in prime position to do the same.

Little missed out on the U19 World Cup — missing the age bracket by just as few months but the medium-pacer should be in action at the senior World Cup.

Louise was a recipient of an education professional contract, enabling her to balance cricket along side her studies.

Education contracts are designed to work around players who are at school full-time or studying at a tertiary level. Players on these contracts gain a significant living allowance to ensure they do not need to find a job during their education years, and can instead concentrate on their cricket. Most of these players will be effectively full-time in the summer holidays

Sophie MacMahon

Sophie MacMahon has been in and around Ireland’s squad since 2017 and has since won herself 30 international caps. MacMahon didn’t have the easiest introduction to the international scene as she made her ODI and T20 debuts against India and the West Indies however she has since received a professional full-time contract.

Jane Maguire

Jane Maguire is another exciting young prospect for Ireland. Maguire was only a few months too old for selection for the U19 World Cup — a squad her younger sister Aimee was a part of.

The 19-year-old currently holds an education part-time Ireland contract after her performances since joining the side in 2021. Maguire rises to the occasion and speaks positively about her experiences playing against opposition such as Australia.

It was insane, one minute you’d watch them on the TV the next one you’re a bowling to Healy but yeah you learn a lot playing the best. If you want to be the best you have to play the best so it was great opportunity to play against them

Maguire has also entered the inaugural Women’s Premier League draft — an opportunity which would further her position as a role model in Irish women’s sport. She speaks about the impact that Ireland teams featuring at international tournaments makes.

Just even have women role models in the country like the girls qualifying in the football for the World Cup was incredible, social media went mental over it like I’d say before that half the people didn’t even watch women’s football so like Ireland qualifying for the cricket World Cup as well really helps younger girls in cricket showing that there is a pathway into cricket

Cara Murray

Leg-spinner Cara Murray has almost 40 international wickets to her name, receiving her first full contract in 2022. Murray has best T20 figures of 3/9 and has been a consistent and recently economical bowler for the team. Belfast-born Murray has also played for all of the Women’s Super Series teams.

Leah Paul

All-rounder, Leah Paul, is a vital part of Ireland’s batting line up and bowling plans. Paul has both opened the batting and the bowling for Ireland, registering over 600 international runs and taking 27 wickets.

The Dubliner bowls slow left-arm spin and her best figures of 4/16 in IT20s have set the precedent for her international career which started in 2017. In a losing cause against Pakistan, in their most recent series, Paul top scored with 65 and she has an international century to her name.

Orla Prendergast

Orla Prendergast’s international debut came when she had just turned 17. Since then, the all-rounder has gone from strength to strength, solidifying herself in the team. All this and she is still only 20 years-old!

A career highlight would be Ireland’s historic recent tour of Pakistan. She took 3/10 in the first T20, however, it was her batting that stood out across the tour. Averaging 32.00 with the bat, Prendergast scored 96 runs across 3 innings in their IT20s and currently hold an education part-time Ireland contract.

Prendergast’s teammate, Mary Waldron spoke highly of her as an upcoming player.

There’s another girl, Orla Prendergast who I think is absolutely world-class as well, she’ll make a mark over in the UK or the Big Bash if she gets a chance

Eimear Richardson

Eimear Richardson is one of the more senior members of the squad, having played for Ireland since 2005. The off-spinner has taken 80 international wickets while with the bat, she has racked up over 1000 runs.

Richardson has spent time playing in New Zealand, previously playing for Central Districts and Wellington, most recently with Northern Districts. She recently scored 85 and took 2/42 against Canterbury and has plenty of experience playing with and against members of the New Zealand squad.

Mary Waldron

Mary Waldron has many strings to her bow. Not only has she represented Ireland women in football, but she has played hockey for a number of years, she is an international cricket umpire and of course, is a stalwart of the Ireland women’s cricket team as a wicketkeeper.

Waldron speaks about how she ended up playing cricket — it all started with South Africa!

I played soccer growing up and when I went to university, I just made friends with girl on the soccer team there. Her parents are Irish but she was born in South Africa and that’s where she like found cricket and loved it and just wouldn’t stop talking about it and I was like what are you even talking about! We just became friends and I used to watch her play and the club I joined is the club that I play for now

Waldron has earned over 120 caps since her debut in 2010 and has scored almost 1000 runs. The keeper has taken 62 catches and 37 stumpings but is probably most well known for her unconventional lacrosse helmet which she wears instead of the traditional cricket helmet.

I’ve actually worn that my whole career! When I was wearing my helmet and the ball went down the leg side I just would dive — I wasn’t aware that footwork a thing! I used to bind my head with the helmet and so I just googled the mask and got it. I think other keepers need to start using it, it would be great in a World Cup to see someone wearing a mask like that

Aged 38, Waldron also looks to life after a playing career and her hopes are set on umpiring with experience in the WBBL and at International Qualifiers.

I enjoy umpiring and it works out while I’m traveling back and forth to Australia because I have the time to umpire as well as play but I’d like to take it further once I retire. I’ve always said umpiring a World Cup final or a Test Match would be brilliant but that’s just a faraway dream at the minute

Rachel Delaney (Replacing Rebecca Stokell)

All-rounder, Rachel Delaney was called up into the T20 squad as club teammate, Rebecca Stokell was ruled out after sustaining a foot ligament injury.

Delaney currently has 25 international caps with her off-spin providing best figures of 3/20. The 25 year-old has previous experience playing in South Africa as part of Ireland’s squad in 2017. Delaney was also awarded a non-retainer contract in 2022 as a result of her domestic and international performances.

Rebecca Stokell

Despite the initial call up to the squad and travelling to South Africa, Rebecca Stokell has been ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a foot ligament injury. Stokell featured for Ireland at the 2018 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and has since scored almost 500 international runs. At 22, she was one of nine players to receive and education part-time Ireland contract.

Ireland’s World Cup Fixtures

Ireland Women v England Women: 1pm (GMT) Monday 13th February

Ireland Women v Pakistan Women: 5pm (GMT) Wednesday 15th February

Ireland Women v West Indies Women: 5pm (GMT) Friday 17th February

Ireland Women v India Women: 3pm (GMT) Monday 20th February