Ireland women's cricket team

Last updated

Ireland
Cricket Ireland flag.svg
Association Cricket Ireland
Personnel
Captain Gaby Lewis
Coach Lloyd Tennant
International Cricket Council
ICC status Full member (2017;8 years ago (2017))
Associate member (1993;32 years ago (1993))
ICC region Europe
ICC RankingsCurrent [1] Best-ever
ODI 10th 8th
T20I 9th 9th (24-Aug-2025)
Tests
Only Testv Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan at College Park, Dublin; 30–31 July 2000
TestsPlayedWon/Lost
Total [2] 1 1/0
(0 draws)
One Day Internationals
First ODIv Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia at Ormeau Cricket Ground, Belfast; 28 June 1987
Last ODIv Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe at Stormont, Belfast; 28 July 2025
ODIsPlayedWon/Lost
Total [3] 192 56/128
(1 tie, 7 no results)
This year [4] 10 4/6
(0 ties, 0 no results)
World Cup appearances5 (first in 1988 )
Best result4th (1988)
Women's World Cup Qualifier appearances4 (first in 2003 )
Best resultChampions (2003)
T20 Internationals
First T20Iv WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg  West Indies at Kenure, Dublin; 27 June 2008
Last T20Iv Flag of Italy.svg  Italy at Hazelaarweg Stadium, Rotterdam; 27 August 2025
T20IsPlayedWon/Lost
Total [5] 140 66/73
(0 ties, 1 no result)
This year [6] 12 11/1
(0 ties, 0 no results)
T20 World Cup appearances4 (first in 2014 )
Best result1st round (2014, 2016, 2018, 2023)
T20 World Cup Qualifier appearances4 (first in 2013 )
Best resultChampions (2015)
As of 27 August 2025

The Ireland women's cricket team represents Ireland in international women's cricket. Cricket in Ireland is governed by Cricket Ireland and organised on an All-Ireland basis, meaning the Irish women's team represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Contents

Ireland made its One-Day International (ODI) debut in 1987, against Australia, and the following year played at the 1988 World Cup, making the first of five appearances at the tournament. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Ireland was considered to be a top-level team, playing regular ODI series and placing as high as fifth at the World Cup (in 1993, out of eight teams). In 2000, the team played its only Test match, defeating the Pakistan women's team. Although it still retains ODI status, Ireland has not qualified for a World Cup since the 2005 event. The team has, however, qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 on two occasions, in 2014 and 2016. In December 2018, Cricket Ireland offered professional contracts to the women players for the first time. [7]

In April 2021, the ICC awarded permanent Test and One Day International (ODI) status to all full member women's teams. [8]

History

1980s

The Irish women's team entered the international arena well before their male counterparts, playing their first ODIs in a three match series against Australia in 1987, a full 19 years before the men's team would make their ODI debut. [9] They lost all three games by more than 100 runs, but were still invited to take part in the World Cup the following year in Australia.

In that World Cup, they finished fourth, losing to New Zealand in the third place play-off game. Ireland subsequently came fourth of five in the tournament, with Ireland's only two wins both came against The Netherlands. The next year, Ireland took part in the first Women's European Championship in Denmark, finishing fourth on run rate, with their only win coming against the hosts.

1990s

The first two years of the 1990s again saw Ireland compete in the European Championships, finishing as runners up to England in 1990, and third place in 1991. Sandwiched between those two tournaments was a 2 match ODI series against England, with England winning both games, the second by 10 wickets.

1993 saw them compete in the World Cup again, this time finishing in fifth place. The next European Championship in 1995 again saw them finish as runners up to England. Following this, they settled into a pattern of playing ODIs against whichever team was touring England, a pattern that continues to this day. The 1997 World Cup saw them lose to New Zealand in the quarter-finals. The end of the 1990s saw them again finish as runners up to England in the European Championship in 1999.

2000s

Ireland played their first ever Test match in 2000, beating Pakistan by an innings inside two days in Dublin. [10] This is still their only Test match however. They also dominated the ODI series against Pakistan, winning 4–0 with a fifth game rained off. They still could only finish seventh in the World Cup later that year though, their only win coming against The Netherlands. The following year, they won the European Championship, and that remains the only time out of seven tournaments that the England team had not won the competition.

That seventh place meant that they had to take part in the 2003 IWCC Trophy, the inaugural edition of what is now known simply as the World Cup Qualifier. They won every game in that tournament, which qualified them for the world cup in South Africa in 2005. They came last in that tournament, meaning they will have to qualify again for the 2009 World Cup. Later in the year, they yet again finished as runners up to England in the European Championship.

They played a two match ODI series against the Netherlands, winning both games. In November 2007, they went to the Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, where they played Bermuda, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa and an African qualifier.

In 2009, Ireland beat the Netherlands to win the European Championship. [11]

In April 2016, Laura Delany was named as captain of Ireland women's cricket team replacing Isobel Joyce who stepped down after the 2016 ICC Women's World Twenty20 in India. [12] [13] [14]

In December 2020, the ICC announced the qualification pathway for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. [15] Ireland were named in the 2021 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier regional group, alongside five other teams. [16]

In 2021, Ireland were awarded qualification for the 2022–25 ICC Women's Championship on the basis of their WODI ranking after the abandonment of the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

On 23 January 2024, Cara Murray became the first Irish player to take six wickets in a WODI with 6/31 against Zimbabwe in Harare. [17] [18]

Tournament history

ICC Women's World Cup

Women's Cricket World Cup records
YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of England.svg 1973 Did not qualify
Flag of India.svg 1978
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1982
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1988 Round -robin4/582600
Flag of England.svg 1993 Round -robin5/872500
Flag of India.svg 1997 Quarter-finals62301
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2000 Round -robin7/871600
Flag of South Africa.svg 2005 Round -robin8/870502
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2009 Did not qualify
Flag of India.svg 2013
Flag of England.svg 2017
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2022
Flag of India.svg 2025
Total5/130 Titles3572503

ECC Women's European Cricket Championship

Women's European Cricket Championship records
YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Denmark.svg 1989 Round -robin31200
Flag of England.svg 1990 Round -robin32100
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1991 Round -robin31200
Flag of Ireland.svg 1995 Round -robin32100
Flag of Denmark.svg 1999 Round -robin32100
Flag of England.svg 2001 Champions33000
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 2005The full information of the tournament have not been found
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2007
Flag of Ireland.svg 2009 Champions22000
Flag of Scotland.svg 2010The full information of the tournament have not been found
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2011 Round -robin21100
Flag of England.svg 2014The full information of the tournament have not been found
Total8/122 Title2214800

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2003 Qualified1/655000
Flag of South Africa.svg 2008 Did not qualify42200
Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2011 Did not qualify6/1051400
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2017 Did not qualify92700
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg 2021 Tournament postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic21100
Flag of Pakistan.svg 2025 Did not qualify52300
Total5/61 Title30131700

ICC Women's World T20

ICC Women's T20 World Cup records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of England.svg 2009 Did not qualify
WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg 2010
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2012
Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2014 Group stage40400
Flag of India.svg 2016 40400
WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg 2018 40400
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2020 Did not qualify
Flag of South Africa.svg 2023 Group stage40400
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2024 Did not qualify
Flag of England.svg 2026 To be determined
Flag of Pakistan.svg 2028
Total4/90 Titles1601600

ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier

ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Ireland.svg 2013 3rd-place/Qualified3/853200
Flag of Thailand.svg 2015 Champions/Qualified1/855000
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2018 Runners-up
Qualified
2/854100
Flag of Scotland.svg 2019 DNQ3/853200
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2022 Runners-up
Qualified
2/853200
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2024 DNQ3/1054100
Flag.svg 2026 To be determined
Total6/63 Titles3022800

Cricket at Summer Olympics Games

Cricket at Summer Olympics records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of the United States.svg 2028 To be determined
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2032
Total0 Title00000

ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy

ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2027 To be determined
Flag.svg 2031
Total0 Title00000

Squad

This lists all the players with a central contract with Cricket Ireland or were named in the most recent ODI or T20I squad. Uncapped players are listed in italics

NameAgeBatting styleBowling styleContractFormatNotes
Batters
Rebecca Stokell 25Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Gaby Lewis 24Right-handedRight-arm leg break Full-timeODI & T20ICaptain
Una Raymond-Hoey 28Right-handedRight-arm medium RetainerODI & T20I
Sarah Forbes23Right-handedEducationalODI & T20I
Christina Coulter Reilly22Right-handedRight-arm leg break CasualODI & T20I
Abbi Harrison19Right-handedRight-arm off break Casual
All-rounders
Orla Prendergast 23Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Leah Paul 25Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox Full-timeODI & T20I
Laura Delany 33Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Sophie MacMahon 28Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Louise Little 22Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Wicket-keepers
Amy Hunter 19Right-handedEducationalODI & T20I
Joanna Loughran21Right-handedEducationalODI
Spin Bowlers
Cara Murray 24Right-handedRight-arm leg break Full-timeODI & T20I
Freya Sargent 19Right-handedRight-arm off break Full-timeODI & T20I
Aimee Maguire18Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox EducationalODI & T20I
Kia McCartney20Right-handedRight-arm off break Casual
Seam Bowlers
Arlene Kelly 31Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Ava Canning 21Right-handedRight-arm medium EducationalODI & T20I
Jane Maguire 22Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Georgina Dempsey 21Right-handedRight-arm medium EducationalODI & T20I
Alana Dalzell 24Right-handedRight-arm medium Full-timeODI & T20I
Alice Tector17Right-handedRight-arm medium CasualODI & T20I

Updated as of 11 September 2024.

Records

International match summary – Ireland Women [19] [20] [21]

Last updated 27 August 2025.

Playing record
FormatMWLTD/NRInaugural match
Test matches1100030 July 2000
One-Day Internationals192561281728 June 1987
Twenty20 Internationals14066730127 June 2008

Test matches

Test record versus other nations [19]

Records complete to Women's Test #111. Last updated 30 July 2000.

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
v. Full Members
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 1100030 July 200030 July 2000

One-Day Internationals

ODI record versus other nations [20]

Records complete to WODI #1476. Last updated 28 July 2025.

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
v. Full Members
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 170170028 June 1987
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 10170226 November 201121 August 2012
Flag of England.svg  England 20218005 December 198812 August 2001
Flag of India.svg  India 150150026 July 1993
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 200180229 November 1998
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 226160018 December 199718 December 1997
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20118015 August 199711 August 2016
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 724015 December 200016 August 2024
WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg  West Indies 121100129 July 199321 July 2001
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 971105 October 20217 October 2021
v. Associate Members
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 7610019 July 198919 July 1989
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1100022 July 200322 July 2003
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 252320030 November 198830 November 1988
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 6510011 August 200111 August 2001
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 1100015 April 202515 April 2025

Twenty20 Internationals


WT20I record versus other nations [21]

Records complete to WT20I #2450. Last updated 27 August 2025.

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
v. Full Members
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 8080027 March 2014
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 14680028 August 20125 December 2015
Flag of England.svg  England 4130023 June 201215 September 2024
Flag of India.svg  India 2020015 November 2018
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 4040018 March 2016
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 226160025 May 200925 May 2009
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 13211001 August 20083 August 2016
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 5140014 October 201013 August 2024
WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg  West Indies 8080027 June 2008
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 101000023 September 202223 September 2022
v. Associate Members
Flag of France.svg  France 1100029 August 202129 August 2021
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 3300026 August 202126 August 2021
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2200023 August 202523 August 2025
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 1100031 August 201931 August 2019
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 18161016 August 20096 August 2009
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 2200012 July 201812 July 2018
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1495008 July 20188 July 2018
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 523007 July 20187 July 2018
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 1100010 July 201810 July 2018
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 1100025 April 202425 April 2024
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1100019 September 202219 September 2022
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 110001 May 20241 May 2024

See also

References

  1. "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
  2. "Women's Test matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  3. "WODI matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  4. "WODI matches - 2025 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  5. "WT20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  6. "WT20I matches - 2025 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  7. "Cricket Ireland to offer professional contracts to women for the first time". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  8. "The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board and Committee meetings have concluded following a series of virtual conference calls". ICC. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  9. Penbugs (28 June 2020). "June 28th, 1987: Ireland played their first international match". Penbugs. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  10. "Along with history, Ireland look to make a big first impression". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  11. Cricinfo staff (5 August 2009), All-round Richardson guides Ireland to title, Cricinfo , retrieved 5 August 2009
  12. Delany named Ireland Women captain
  13. "Laura Delany named as the new Irish cricket captain". Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  14. Laura Delany named as new Ireland women's captain
  15. "Qualification for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  16. "ICC announce qualification process for 2023 Women's T20 World Cup". The Cricketer. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  17. "Zimbabwe v Ireland: Cara Murray's 6-31 helps tourists clinch Harare ODI series". BBC Sport. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  18. "Cara Murray's historic six-wicket haul leads Ireland to Zimbabwe series win". Belfast Telegraph. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Records / Ireland Women / Test matches / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  20. 1 2 "Records / Ireland Women / One-Day Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  21. 1 2 "Records / Ireland Women / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  22. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Test / Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  23. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Test / Top Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  24. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Test / Best Bowling figures". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  25. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's One-Day Internationals / Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  26. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's One-Day Internationals / Top Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  27. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's One-Day Internationals / Best Bowling figures". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  28. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's One Day Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  29. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's One Day Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  30. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's One-Day Internationals / Highest Scores". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  31. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's One-Day Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  32. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  33. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Top Scores". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  34. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Best Bowling figures". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  35. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  36. "Records / Ireland Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 12 August 2019.

Further reading