‘A new challenge that we’re up for’ – Ireland skipper Laura Delany as team completes West Indies tour preparations

Ireland Women (Photo Source: Twitter)

DUBLIN – Ireland Women’s cricket team has completed final preparations ahead of their historic multi-format tour to the West Indies – the squad departs on June 21 ahead of the first match on June 26. The tour will involve three One-Day International matches (part of the ICC Women’s Championship) and three T20 Internationals.

“We’re really looking forward to heading off to St Lucia on Wednesday. We had our last Super Series game there on Sunday, so it was great to have a 50-over game ahead of our ODI series, which starts next week. We’ve played a few games over the last week against the Ireland Under-15s Boys, which have been brilliant – they’ve been tough games, but that’s exactly what we want before we head away,” Laura Delany, Ireland Women’s captain, said.

“In terms of our opponent, it’s going to be a new challenge that we’re up for. They’ve a couple of players coming into their squad that didn’t play in our match at the T20 World Cup back in February, and playing in home conditions for them will prove tricky for us. For the majority of the girls in our squad this will be their first time going over there, so it’ll be interesting to see how quickly we can adapt to conditions. I’ve heard it’s meant to be high 30s, but we’ll see when we get over there. Regardless, it’s just going to be an amazing experience to go over there and play in in a stadium which is highly renowned.”

Ireland Women’s squad

Laura Delany (c), Ava Canning, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Sophie MacMahon, Aimee Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Eimear Richardson, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron

Ireland Women v West Indies Women Fixtures

26 June: Ireland Women v West Indies Women – 1st ODI (St Lucia; 10am local time)

28 June: Ireland Women v West Indies Women – 2nd ODI (St Lucia; 10am local time)

1 July: Ireland Women v West Indies Women – 3rd ODI (St Lucia; 3pm local time; D/N)

4 July: Ireland Women v West Indies Women – 1st T20I (St Lucia; 5pm local time; D/N)

6 July: Ireland Women v West Indies Women – 2nd T20I (St Lucia; 5pm local time; D/N)

8 July: Ireland Women v West Indies Women – 3rd T20I (St Lucia; 5pm local time; D/N)

Broadcast details will be advised by Cricket West Indies in due course.