The Ireland women's cricket team 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.
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| Association | Cricket Ireland | |||||||||
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| Personnel | ||||||||||
| Captain | Laura Delany | |||||||||
| Coach | Ed Joyce | |||||||||
| International Cricket Council | ||||||||||
| ICC status | Full member (2017) Associate member (1993) | |||||||||
| ICC region | Europe | |||||||||
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| Women's Tests | ||||||||||
| Only WTest | v  Pakistan at College Park, Dublin; 30–31 July 2000 | |||||||||
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| Women's One Day Internationals | ||||||||||
| First WODI | v  Australia at Ormeau Cricket Ground, Belfast; 28 June 1987 | |||||||||
| Last WODI | v  Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club, Harare; 23 January 2024 | |||||||||
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| Women's World Cup appearances | 5 (first in 1988) | |||||||||
| Best result | 4th (1988) | |||||||||
| Women's World Cup Qualifier appearances | 4 (first in 2003) | |||||||||
| Best result | Champions (2003) | |||||||||
| Women's Twenty20 Internationals | ||||||||||
| First WT20I | v  West Indies at Kenure, Dublin; 27 June 2008 | |||||||||
| Last WT20I | v  Scotland at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; 5 May 2024 | |||||||||
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| Women's T20 World Cup appearances | 4 (first in 2014) | |||||||||
| Best result | 1st round (2014, 2016, 2018, 2023) | |||||||||
| Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier appearances | 4 (first in 2013) | |||||||||
| Best result | Champions (2015) | |||||||||
| As of 5 May 2024 | ||||||||||
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 only Test match, defeating the Pakistan women's team. 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. In December 2018, Cricket Ireland offered professional contracts to the women players for the first time.[8]
In April 2021, the ICC awarded permanent Test and One Day International (ODI) status to all full member women's teams.[9]
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.[10] They lost all three games by more than 100 runs, but were still invited to take part in the World 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.
2000s
Ireland played their first ever Test match in 2000, beating Pakistan by an innings inside two days in Dublin.[11] 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.
They played a two match ODI series against the Netherlands, winning both games. In November 2007, they went to the Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, where they played 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.[12]
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.[13][14][15]
In December 2020, the ICC announced the qualification pathway for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.[16] Ireland were named in the 2021 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier regional group, alongside five other teams.[17]
In 2021, Ireland were awarded qualification for the 2022–25 ICC Women's Championship on the basis of their WODI ranking after the abandonment of the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Tournament history
Women's Cricket World Cup
Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier
ICC Women's T20 World Cup
ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier
European Championship
- 1989: 4th place
- 1990: Runners-up
- 1991: 3rd place
- 1995: Runners-up
- 1999: Runners-up
- 2001: Winners
- 2005: Runners-up
- 2009: Winners
Squad
This lists all the players with a central contract with Cricket Ireland or were named in the most recent ODI or T20I squad. Updated as of 6 September 2022.
| Name | Age | Batting style | Bowling style | Contract | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||||
| Gaby Lewis | 23 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Part-time | ODI & T20I | Vice-Captain |
| Rebecca Stokell | 24 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Part-time | T20I | |
| Sarah Forbes | 21 | Right-handed | Non-retainer | T20I | ||
| All-rounders | ||||||
| Leah Paul | 24 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | Part-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Laura Delany | 32 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Full-time | ODI & T20I | Captain |
| Orla Prendergast | 21 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Part-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Sophie MacMahon | 27 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Full-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Arlene Kelly | 30 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | – | ODI & T20I | |
| Celeste Raack | 29 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Full-time | ||
| Eimear Richardson | 37 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Full-time | T20I | |
| Louise Little | 20 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Part-time | ODI | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||
| Mary Waldron | 40 | Right-handed | – | Full-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Shauna Kavanagh | 32 | Right-handed | – | Full-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Amy Hunter | 18 | Right-handed | – | Part-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Spin Bowlers | ||||||
| Cara Murray | 23 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Full-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Rachel Delaney | 27 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Non-retainer | ODI & T20I | |
| Seam Bowlers | ||||||
| Georgina Dempsey | 19 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Part-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Jane Maguire | 21 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Part-time | ODI & T20I | |
| Ava Canning | 20 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Part-time | ||
| Hannah Little | 22 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Non-retainer | ||
| Kate McEvoy | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | Non-retainer | ODI | ||
Records
International match summary – Ireland Women[18][19][20]
Last updated 5 May 2024.
| Playing record | ||||||
| Format | M | W | L | T | D/NR | Inaugural match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test matches | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 July 2000 |
| One-Day Internationals | 173 | 49 | 116 | 1 | 7 | 28 June 1987 |
| Twenty20 Internationals | 121 | 50 | 70 | 0 | 1 | 27 June 2008 |
Test matches
- Highest team total: 193/3 declared v. Pakistan on 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin. [21]
- Highest individual score: 68*, Caitriona Beggs v. Pakistan on 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin.[22]
- Best innings bowling: 6/21, Isobel Joyce v. Pakistan on 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin. [23]
Test record versus other nations[18]
Records complete to Women's Test #111. Last updated 30 July 2000.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v. Full Members | |||||||
| Pakistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 July 2000 | 30 July 2000 |
One-Day Internationals
- Highest team total: 337/8 v. Netherlands on 24 August 2022 at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen.[24]
- Highest individual score: 137, Leah Paul v. Netherlands on 24 August 2022 at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen.[25]
- Best innings bowling: 6/31, Cara Murray v. Zimbabwe on 23 January 2023 at Harare Sports Club, Harare. [26]
Most ODI wickets for Ireland Women[28]
| Player | Wickets | Average | Career span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isobel Joyce | 66 | 30.45 | 1999–2018 |
| Ciara Metcalfe | 60 | 27.00 | 1999–2017 |
| Barbara McDonald | 54 | 26.75 | 1993–2005 |
| Catherine O'Neill | 45 | 22.84 | 1993–2003 |
| Cara Murray | 41 | 30.17 | 2018–2024 |
Best bowling figures in an innings in Women's ODI[30]
| Player | Score | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cara Murray | 6/31 | Zimbabwe | 23 January 2024 |
| Eimear Richardson | 5/13 |  Netherlands | 5 August 2009 |
| Ciara Metcalfe | 5/18 | Netherlands | 17 August 2007 |
| Susan Bray | 5/27 |  Denmark | 18 July 1990 |
| Cara Murray | 5/39 | Netherlands | 24 August 2022 |
ODI record versus other nations[19]
Records complete to WODI #1362. Last updated 23 January 2024.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v. Full Members | |||||||
| Australia | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 28 June 1987 | |
 Bangladesh | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 26 November 2011 | 21 August 2012 |
 England | 17 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 5 December 1988 | 12 August 2001 |
 India | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 26 July 1993 | |
 New Zealand | 20 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 29 November 1998 | |
| Pakistan | 21 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 18 December 1997 | 18 December 1997 |
 South Africa | 20 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 5 August 1997 | 11 August 2016 |
 Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 December 2000 | |
| West Indies | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 29 July 1993 | 21 July 2001 |
| Zimbabwe | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 October 2021 | 7 October 2021 |
| v. Associate Members | |||||||
| Denmark | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 July 1989 | 19 July 1989 |
 Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 July 2003 | 22 July 2003 |
| Netherlands | 25 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 November 1988 | 30 November 1988 |
| Scotland | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 August 2001 | 11 August 2001 |
Twenty20 Internationals
- Highest team total: 213/4, v Netherlands on 12 August 2019 at Sportpark Het Schootsveld, Deventer. [31]
- Highest individual innings: 105*, Gaby Lewis v Germany on 26 August 2021 at La Manga Club, Cartagena. [32]
- Best innings bowling: 4/15, Ciara Metcalfe v Sri Lanka on 20 March 2016 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. [33]
Most WT20I wickets for Ireland Women[35]
| Player | Wickets | Average | Career span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Delany | 84 | 18.80 | 2010–2024 |
| Eimear Richardson | 60 | 21.33 | 2008–2024 |
| Arlene Kelly | 53 | 13.35 | 2022–2024 |
| Kim Garth | 42 | 19.88 | 2010–2019 |
| Cara Murray | 33 | 25.96 | 2018–2024 |
| Isobel Joyce | 33 | 30.81 | 2008–2018 |
WT20I record versus other nations[20]
Records complete to WT20I #1878. Last updated 5 May 2024.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v. Full Members | |||||||
| Australia | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 27 March 2014 | |
| Bangladesh | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 28 August 2012 | 5 December 2015 |
| England | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 June 2012 | |
| India | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 November 2018 | |
| New Zealand | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 March 2016 | |
| Pakistan | 19 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 25 May 2009 | 25 May 2009 |
| South Africa | 13 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 August 2008 | 3 August 2016 |
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 October 2010 | |
| West Indies | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 27 June 2008 | |
| Zimbabwe | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 September 2022 | 23 September 2022 |
| v. Associate Members | |||||||
 France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 August 2021 | 29 August 2021 |
 Germany | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 August 2021 | 26 August 2021 |
 Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 August 2019 | 31 August 2019 |
| Netherlands | 16 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 August 2009 | 6 August 2009 |
 Papua New Guinea | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 July 2018 | 12 July 2018 |
| Scotland | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 July 2018 | 8 July 2018 |
 Thailand | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 July 2018 | 7 July 2018 |
 Uganda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 July 2018 | 10 July 2018 |
 United Arab Emirates | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 April 2024 | 25 April 2024 |
 United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 September 2022 | 19 September 2022 |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 May 2024 | 1 May 2024 |
See also
References
Further reading
- Siggins, Ger. "The journey of Irish women's cricket". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2021.