Lara McBride, a promising 19-year-old off-spinner, has received her first senior call-up to represent Ireland in the upcoming series against Zimbabwe. This announcement comes on the heels of McBride’s impressive performance at the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in January, where she showcased her skills on an international platform.
For Ireland, the next ODI home series against Zimbabwe coming up would be an important preparation. They’re looking ahead to their T20 World Cup qualifier in August. The games will be played July 20 – July 28. We’ll see you soon for three T20 Internationals at Pembroke Cricket Club and two ODIs at Stormont!
New head coach Lloyd Tennant, who is new to the role, has announced two 14-player squads for the three Test series. Ireland’s Gaby Lewis will captain both teams, and she will be joined by Orla Prendergast as vice-captain. This series is Tennant’s first audition as the newly appointed National Theatre of Scotland casting director, replacing Ed Joyce.
Tennant shared his excitement at the prospect of working with the exciting pool of players available to him across Ireland. He stated, “My aim during the next few weeks and months is to build on the strong foundations already in place, where possible, look to move our game forward.”
McBride’s selection comes on the back of an impressive Super Series, where she impressed selectors with her skills and prowess. Her selection in the squad is a testament to the Irish women’s cricket team’s desire to arm themselves with youth and talent. As they prepare for upcoming competitions, they bring this new collaborative outlook.
“I’ve had a very warm welcome since arriving – and watched some very competitive action in the Super Series – there is plenty of incredibly talented players here in Ireland to work with, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can progress further over coming years.” – Lloyd Tennant
The upcoming series against Zimbabwe presents McBride and her teammates with an invaluable opportunity to earn more experience. Yet, they too have a chance to fine-tune their abilities ahead of the T20 World Cup qualifier. Now the team is looking ahead to a big transitional period in their evolution. All eyes will be on how they fare against the Zimbabwean junior counterparts.
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