How Ireland became the team of the future in women’s cricket – and three players England need to watch out for

For former captain Isobel Joyce, one moment underlined Ireland’s newfound confidence in women’s cricket. Before last month’s clash with reigning Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka, batsman Una Raymond-Hoey declared they were targeting wins in both the T20 and one-day international series.

“She said it so casually,” Joyce recalls. “I thought, ‘Really? This is a big decision.’”

It’s not anything extraordinary, though. Ireland drew the T20 series 1-1 before fulfilling Raymond-Hoey’s prediction in the ODIs, 2-1. Ahead of England’s upcoming white-ball tour of Belfast and Dublin, the results were the latest evidence of Ireland’s rise since becoming a professional team in 2022.

Less than 12 months ago, Dublin-born Kim Garth opened the bowling for Australia in the Ashes. The decision to shelve Ireland’s greens in favour of the baggy variety came about because of the lack of professional opportunities in her homeland. In a moment of poetic irony, Ireland finally introduced full-time contracts for women the same year Garth made her Australian debut.

With the ability to offer salaries, full-time training, strength and conditioning programmes and even something as basic as equipment, Ireland can now retain its best players.

Under the guidance of head coach Ed Joyce – Isobel’s brother – and the promising batting trio of Orla Prendergast, Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter, Ireland have beaten South Africa, Pakistan, Australia and Sri Lanka since signing their contracts.

It’s a far cry from a generation of players who suffered financially for the privilege of representing their country. “It was a great experience for us not having to pay for our own equipment or flights,” explains Isobel Joyce, who played from 1999 to 2018. “We got match fees at two World Cups, that was it. We often had to fundraise, my brother gave me a few hundred pounds when I went to New Zealand in 2000.”

The most noticeable improvement has come in the power-hitting. When Joyce has played, Clare Shillington has been Ireland’s best player, with a career strike rate of 99 in T20Is. Lewis (116), Prendergast (117) and Hunter (112) have all scored their runs more quickly, which Joyce attributes to stronger players, better shots and lighter bats, more suited to the required strokeplay.

Previous generations, including Garth, Shillington and Joyce’s sister Cecelia, could be forgiven for wondering what would have been. “We talked about it when they had those victories (over Sri Lanka), they are so lucky to be alive in that era,” says Isobel Joyce. “The word used was envy, not jealousy, you don’t want to take that away from them. We fought throughout our careers knowing it was for the next generation.”

Further improvements are still needed, both on and off the pitch. Ireland’s surprise qualifying defeat to Scotland cost them a place in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The standard of training facilities and player wages, which have improved recently, need to improve even further.

Regardless, the signs are positive. After a one-off T20I win, the ODI series victory over Sri Lanka was the first time Ireland had achieved sustained success against a top team.

England, even without their T20 World Cup front-row players, will present a different challenge. One that Ireland relish. There is a quiet optimism that, as they progress, the next step could include a first win over their nearest neighbours since 2001.

Three players England need to watch out for

Gabby Lewis

With 132 caps to her name at the age of 23, Lewis is the ‘veteran’ of Ireland’s batting trio. The first of Ireland’s big three, who burst onto the scene with an international debut at the age of 13, she is also familiar to English fans after her spells with Southern Vipers, Southern Brave and Northern Superchargers. She was recalled in the recent T20 hundred against Sri Lanka. With Laura Delany out injured, Lewis will captain Ireland against England.

Orla Prendergast

As the leading batsman, fastest bowler and one of the team’s best fielders, Prendergast (22) is Ireland’s most valuable player. He grew up playing football and cricket and could have had a professional career in both. He gained international fame with a half-century against the West Indies in the 2023 T20 World Cup and was named as the 12th player in the Team of the Tournament. He spent time in England with the Western Storm and Blaze.

Amy Hunter

The youngest of the three, 18-year-old Belfast-born Hunter sat her A-Levels earlier this year. She holds the distinction of being the youngest international hundred-man or woman to reach three figures in a match against Zimbabwe on her 16th birthday. She also has a T20 century against the same team to her name. She took over as Ireland’s wicketkeeper following the retirement of Mary Waldron last year. Hunter is a smaller batsman than her top-order colleagues, as are most wicketkeepers, and her main strengths lie in the wicket square.

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