The Ireland women's cricket team is the team that represents Ireland in international women's cricket. Cricket in Ireland is governed by Cricket Ireland and organised on an All-Ireland basis, meaning the Irish women's team represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Ireland made its One Day International (ODI) debut in 1987, against Australia, and the following year played at the 1988 World Cup, making the first of five appearances at the tournament. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s Ireland was considered to be a top-level team, playing regular ODI series and placing as high as fifth at the World Cup (in 1993, out of eight teams). In 2000, the team played its first and only Test match, defeating Pakistan. Although it still retains ODI status, Ireland has not qualified for a World Cup since the 2005 event. The team has, however, qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 on two occasions, in 2014 and 2016.
Women's cricket was amalgamated into the Irish Cricket Union in 2003 and the game has grown from strength to strength. The Irish senior side competes in the Leinster men's league, and has gained promotion on a regular basis. It also competed in the ECB LV County Championships for the first time in 2009. It has been very successful in attracting sponsorship, and major nations such as India, Australia and South Africa have toured Ireland in recent years.
While the game is primarily strong in the Dublin area, there has been an upturn in popularity in the north, and the game is now played in a wide number of schools. This resurgence is evident in quite a number of youngsters from the north being included in youth representative sides.
The national women's side has played in five ICC Women's World Cups to date - the most recent of which was in 2005 - and they have twice won the European Championships - in 2005 and 2009.
Current squad
Women's cricket was amalgamated into the Irish Cricket Union in 2003 and the game has grown from strength to strength. The Irish senior side competes in the Leinster men's league, and has gained promotion on a regular basis. It also competed in the ECB LV County Championships for the first time in 2009. It has been very successful in attracting sponsorship, and major nations such as India, Australia and South Africa have toured Ireland in recent years.
While the game is primarily strong in the Dublin area, there has been an upturn in popularity in the north, and the game is now played in a wide number of schools. This resurgence is evident in quite a number of youngsters from the north being included in youth representative sides.
The national women's side has played in five ICC Women's World Cups to date - the most recent of which was in 2005 - and they have twice won the European Championships - in 2005 and 2009.
Current squad
1. Laura Delany (c)
2. Kim Garth(vc)
3. Catherine Dalton
4. Jenny Gray
5. Cecelia Joyce
6. Isobel Joyce
7. Shauna Kavanagh
8. Amy Kenealy
9. Gaby Lewis
10. Robyn Lewis
11. Ciara Metcalfe
12. Lucy O'Reilly
13. Clare Shillington
14. Mary Waldron (wk)
Ireland | |
Association | Cricket Ireland |
ICC status | Associate (1993) |
ICC region | Europe |
Coach | Aaron Hamilton |
Captain | Laura Delany |
First international | |
(Utrecht; 26 July 1983) | |
First Test | |
(Dublin; 30 July 2000) | |
First ODI | |
(Belfast; 28 June 1987) | |
First T20I | |
(Dublin; 27 June 2008) | |
World Cup | |
Appearances | 5 (first in 1988) |
Best result | 4th (1988) |
World Cup Qualifier | |
Appearances | 3 (first in 2003) |
Best result | Champion (2003) |
World Twenty20 | |
Appearances | 1 (first in 2014) |
Best result | First round (2014) |
World Twenty20 Qualifier | |
Appearances | 2 (first in 2013) |
Best result | Champion (2015) |
Cricket Ireland, officially the Irish Cricket Union, is the governing body for cricket in Ireland(both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland), and oversees the Ireland cricket team andIreland women's cricket team. The Union also organises the premier club cricket competition in Ireland, the Irish Senior Cup.
History
1980s
The Irish women's team entered the international arena well before their male counterparts, playing their first ODIs in a three match series against Australia in 1987, a full 19 years before the men's team would make their ODI debut. They lost all three games by more than 100 runs, but were still invited to take part in theWorld Cup the following year in Australia. In that World Cup, they finished fourth, losing to New Zealand in the third place play-off game. Ireland subsequently came fourth of five in the tournament, with Ireland's only two wins both came against The Netherlands. The next year, Ireland took part in the first Women's European Championship in Denmark, finishing fourth on run rate, with their only win coming against the hosts.
1990s
The first two years of the 1990s again saw Ireland compete in the European Championships, finishing as runners up to England in 1990, and third place in 1991. Sandwiched between those two tournaments was a 2 match ODI series against England, with England winning both games, the second by 10 wickets.
1993 saw them compete in the World Cup again, this time finishing in fifth place. The next European Championship in 1995 again saw them finish as runners up to England. Following this, they settled into a pattern of playing ODIs against whichever team was touring England, a pattern that continues to this day. The 1997 World Cup saw them lose to New Zealand in the quarter finals. The end of the 1990s saw them again finish as runners up to England in the European Championship in 1999.
1993 saw them compete in the World Cup again, this time finishing in fifth place. The next European Championship in 1995 again saw them finish as runners up to England. Following this, they settled into a pattern of playing ODIs against whichever team was touring England, a pattern that continues to this day. The 1997 World Cup saw them lose to New Zealand in the quarter finals. The end of the 1990s saw them again finish as runners up to England in the European Championship in 1999.
2000s
2000 was a big year for the Irish women's team as they played their first ever Test match, beating Pakistan by an innings inside two days in Dublin. This is still their only Test match however. They also dominated the ODI series against Pakistan, winning 4–0 with a fifth game rained off. They still could only finish seventh in the World Cup later that year though, their only win coming against The Netherlands. The following year, they won the European Championship, and that remains the only time out of seven tournaments that the England team had not won the competition.
That seventh place meant that they had to take part in the 2003 IWCC Trophy, the inaugural edition of what is now known simply as the World Cup Qualifier. They won every game in that tournament, which qualified them for the world cup in South Africa in 2005. They came last in that tournament, meaning they will have to qualify again for the 2009 World Cup. Later in the year, they yet again finished as runners up to England in the European Championship.
Their most recent activity was a two match ODI series against The Netherlands, winning both games. In November 2007, they will go to the Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, where they will play Bermuda, The Netherlands, Pakistan,Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa and an African qualifier.
In 2009, Ireland beat the Netherlands to win the European Championship.
That seventh place meant that they had to take part in the 2003 IWCC Trophy, the inaugural edition of what is now known simply as the World Cup Qualifier. They won every game in that tournament, which qualified them for the world cup in South Africa in 2005. They came last in that tournament, meaning they will have to qualify again for the 2009 World Cup. Later in the year, they yet again finished as runners up to England in the European Championship.
Their most recent activity was a two match ODI series against The Netherlands, winning both games. In November 2007, they will go to the Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, where they will play Bermuda, The Netherlands, Pakistan,Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa and an African qualifier.
In 2009, Ireland beat the Netherlands to win the European Championship.
In April 2016, Laura Delany was named as captain of Ireland women's cricket team replacing Isobel Joyce who stepped down after the 2016 ICC Women's World Twenty20 in India.
Tournament history
World Cup
· 1988: 4th place
· 1993: 5th place
· 1997: Quarter finals
· 2000: 7th place
· 2005: 8th place
European Championship
· 1989: 4th place
· 1990: Runners up
· 1991: 3rd place
· 1995: Runners up
· 1999: Runners up
· 2001: Winners
· 2005: Runners up
· 2009: Winners
no. matches played in the 12-24 months since the October before last, plus half the number in the 24 months before that. |
Records
Test cricket
· Highest team total: 193/3 declared v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
· Highest individual score: 68 not out, Caitriona Beggs v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 atTrinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
· Best innings bowling: 6/21, Isobel Joyce v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
· Best match bowling: 6/21, Isobel Joyce v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
ODI cricket
· Highest team total: 309/2 v Netherlands, 19 August 2005 at Miskin Manor Cricket Club, Wales
· Highest individual score: 120, Karen Young v Pakistan, 27 July 2000 at Sydney Parade, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
· Best innings bowling: 5/18, Ciara Metcalfe v Denmark, 17 August 2007 atDeventer, Netherlands
