Laura Delany ruled out of Sri Lanka ODIs with ankle injury

Laura Delany

Ireland Women have moved to Belfast ahead of the three-match one day international series against Sri Lanka, however, two players from the original squad will play no further part in the series due to injuries sustained during the T20I series.

While Ireland Women celebrated an historic first-ever win against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, the joy was tempered slightly by the knowledge that an injury to captain Laura Delany meant the home side would be without its long-time leader and most-experienced player for the all-important ICC Women’s Championship matches. Delany rolled her ankle in the field on Tuesday sustaining suspected ligament damage. She underwent scans today and has been ruled out of the three ODIs.

Coming into the squad as replacement is Jane Maguire, while Gaby Lewis will step into the captaincy with Orla Prendergast interim vice-captain.

The second withdrawal is confirmation that an injury sustained by Una Raymond-Hoey in Game 1 of the T20I series, a low-grade muscle tear, will also keep her out of the ODI series with Sarah Forbes remaining with the squad as cover.

Ed Joyce, Head Coach of Ireland Women, said: “It’s a blow whenever you lose a member of your squad to injury, but to lose the captain – our most experienced player – has required a fundamental re-think of our tactics. Gaby has led before in Laura’s absence. She is an excellent leader so I’m very comfortable with her stepping in to lead for the ODI series.

“Jane Maguire comes into the ODI squad after performing well with the ball during the T20Is. She was unlucky not to make the original squad, but that is possibly a good sign for Ireland as it demonstrates the depth of talent that we are developing here and that competition for places is pushing up our standards.”

Also Read: Ireland Women vs Sri Lanka Women Match Prediction, 1st ODI – Who will win today’s match?

Ireland Women’s ODI squad

Gaby Lewis (c) (Phoenix), Ava Canning (Leinster), Alana Dalzell (Bready), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Malahide), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Joanna Loughran (Leinster), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Jane Maguire (The Hills), Leah Paul (Merron), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke), Freya Sargent (Clontarf), Rebecca Stokell (Merrion), Alice Tector (Phoenix).

Sri Lanka Women squad

Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kawya Kavindi, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Sachini Nisansala, Inoshi Fernando, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Kaushini Nuthyangana.

Check also: Sri Lanka women announce squad for white-ball series against Ireland women, Athapaththu to miss T20I series

Ireland women vs Sri Lanka women fixtures

T20Is

11 August 2024: Ireland vs Sri Lanka – 1st T20I

13 August 2024: Ireland vs Sri Lanka – 2nd T20I

ODIs

16 August 2024: Ireland vs Sri Lanka – 1st ODI (Stormont; start 10.45am)

18 August 2024: Ireland vs Sri Lanka – 2nd ODI (Stormont; start 10.45am)

20 August 2024: Ireland vs Sri Lanka – 3rd ODI (Stormont; start 10.45am)