Time to Break the Drought

Across World Cup campaigns in Bangladesh, India, West Indies and South Africa, Ireland are yet to record a single World Cup victory. Gaby Lewis and her team cannot look backward, they can only step forward and there’s a spring in the step of this Ireland team. We can expect them to break this drought in what will be their fifth T20 World Cup.

Ireland has landed in Pool B, which is universally recognised as the “easier” of the two groups. That said, there are no easy games in a World Cup.

Squad

Gaby Lewis (capt), Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Ava Canning, Cara Murray, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Georgina Dempsey, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Louise Little, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride

Key Players to Watch 

Ireland have a more experienced and capable batting unit than ever before. Amy Hunter is a key player and along with Lewis and Orla Prendergast the team has a strong top three. Beyond that is a little sketchy, so that top three are a key component to the success of Ireland.

What is really exciting about this team is their bowling group. Arlene Kelly and Ava Canning are made for the English conditions. Both are proven performers, wicket takers, and perhaps more importantly, very economical. They are the mainstay of the pace bowling along with Prendergast. It’s unlikely the raw pace of Georgina Dempsey will be called upon too often – more’s the pity, for this player is quite handy with the bat.

Spin duties will be shared between Cara Murray and Aimee Maguire, the latter with her left arm slow bowling often used as a ploy in the Powerplay overs.

Strengths/weaknesses

Obvious strengths here are the group positioning and the fact that the conditions are known to the team. The pace bowling unit is a critical component and Ireland will be smart to capitalise on that ability.

The reality that this Ireland team never gives up is another important factor. Where other teams can fold when the going gets tough, the spirit of the Women in Green is always constant. Ireland doesn’t know defeat until the very last ball of a match. You can’t spirit. It is ingrained and that is certainly the case with Ireland.

The most glaring weakness is the lack of batting depth after the top three. If they don’t perform then there isn’t sufficient batting quality down the order to get the innings back on track. There is more pressure on this top order to fire than almost any other team in the tournament.

Fixtures

Pool B:

• 14th June: Scotland
• 16th June: England
• 19th June: New Zealand
• 23rd June: Sri Lanka
• 27th June: West Indies

Tournament Prospects

Former Ireland Test and ODI skipper Miriam Grealey gives us some insight as to the prospects of the Class of ’26:

“I think we can get three wins in the group if we play to our potential, getting a 4th win would mean taking a huge scalp, and you never know in T20.”

“Usual players to watch out for in Gaby, Orla and Amy any of these girls can win a game… Rebecca is a lovely striker of the ball also and big hitter. Laura and Leah are experienced, can rotate well and have improved their t20 game, should do well also. Cara’s leg spin i like and takes wickets. Arlene experienced and good death bowler. McBride youngster I don’t know much about at all but seems to be going very well at this early stage of her international career.”

Putting on the green cap and sitting down with a bowl of Irish Stew, let’s find a path to success for the Ireland team for this World Cup.

First up is Scotland, which is a great way to start. They have a good record against the Wildcats and a superior ranking and will want to mark this one down as a win to give their campaign some early momentum.

Next up is England. That could be a wonderful triumph or a crash. They’ve only played England once, for a loss. The key here is to not get lost in the occasion, for that may well happen to England who would be marking this on their sheet as a strong potential win. Ireland have a great chance to upset the apple cart here and they are just the team to do it.

Reigning champions New Zealand are a different proposition. They are on an upward trajectory and this will be the toughest game in the Pool for Ireland. History isn’t on their side either, with four losses from four games.

Sri Lanka is a potential gain. The spin-heavy Asian teams don’t have the pace attacks to dominate in these conditions and Sri Lanka is a good example of that. Ireland must win this game to keep their campaign alive.

West Indies are a former champion looking intent on celebrating the ten year anniversary of their World Cup win in 2016. If Ireland can get the Caribbean outfit on one of their bad days, potential win here too.

Prediction

Wise heads are suggesting you need to win at least three games. For Ireland, that must be Scotland, Sri Lanka and West Indies. It is doubtful they can defeat England or New Zealand, so those other games are critical. Can they do it, is the question? They have plenty of talent but do lack depth, particularly with the batting. A good start against Scotland in the first game will set the team up for success.