Starting with a tour of Bangladesh comprising three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs, followed by a three-match ODI series against India in Rajkot in January 2025, this period marks a substantial phase of development for Ireland, who have experienced a notable upward trajectory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Captain Gaby Lewis, who took on the role last month, stated that her team is fully committed to adjusting to the unique challenges of playing in the subcontinent, especially of facing India in a bilateral series for the first time since 2006.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very exciting for us as a group. We take it series by series, focusing first on Bangladesh and then moving into the India series. This summer we improved on how we played against spin.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe kind of witnessed it against Sri Lanka, especially with the amount of spin that they had and we were very successful against it. So it\u2019s just taking in confidence from that and every individual has worked really hard on their game playing spin and that\u2019s very individual to them. So, hopefully we can show that over the next two weeks,\u201d she said in an exclusive conversation with IANS, facilitated by FanCode, the broadcasters for Bangladesh-Ireland series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Top-order batter Amy Hunter believes communication and quick assessments of pitches in Bangladesh and India as key factors for Ireland\u2019s success. \u201cPlaying in subcontinent is very different as compared to back home. Obviously, we have a small amount of experience from playing in Pakistan a couple of years ago, but it\u2019s going to be very different for the girls.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s mainly just about assessing the pitch as quickly as possible and sort of getting the communication right within the side, which is very important. Probably a main component of the series be a lot of spin from both sides, particularly Bangladesh. So, I think it\u2019s just kind of how we can adapt.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cPlus, it\u2019s crucial to just kind of identifying how to get runs while facing a lot of spinners, as they\u2019re all quite different, assessing that pretty quickly and then individually applying to our game to where we can go,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The team\u2019s recent victories, including a 2-1 ODI series win over Sri Lanka and a T20I win over England, combined with increased media attention and sponsorship deals, have significantly raised Ireland\u2019s profile in women\u2019s cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou can see by all the young kids looking for autographs after games in summer, and somewhere it just increases. It\u2019s great to see young kids wanting to be in our shoes and kind of see that as a career for them, which is great because I think a couple of years ago that wouldn\u2019t have been possible,\u201d stated Gaby.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both players also reflected on their personal growth since debuting for Ireland at a young age. In November 2021, as a 16-year-old, Amy broke legendary India batter Mithali Raj\u2019s record to become the youngest women to score an ODI century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In January this year, Amy became the first Ireland woman to score centuries in both ODI and T20I formats when she hit her maiden T20I century in a match against Zimbabwe. Coming on to the international scene, we both were pretty young. I\u2019ve developed a lot as a player, but also kind of as a person over the past couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLike, you grow in confidence a lot, and probably a lot more assured of my game than I was previously. Obviously still a lot to learn, but definitely the awareness of my strengths and weaknesses is probably a lot more, and it\u2019s definitely continually developing.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, Gaby made her Ireland debut in both white-ball formats in July 2014, thus becoming the youngest player to make her international debut. Her father Alan and grandfather Ian played for Ireland, while her elder sister Robyn played alongside Gaby in 2016 Women\u2019s T20 World Cup in India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cComing in young, you just go out and do what you normally did at club level or wherever you played before that. So it just forces you to kind of be more conscious of the small things and off the pitch as well - like the importance of recovery and things like that in terms of looking after yourself and being a bit more professional off as well as on the field.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo to be honest, I don\u2019t really remember much about my first few years, but it\u2019s also about maturing a lot as a player and a person in terms of getting used to the responsibilities and also enjoying it as all-round professionals. Plus, it\u2019s also about getting the balance right in terms of playing cricket and having a life outside of it as well, as we got into the team while doing our degrees outside of it,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland will also bank on experiences of vice-captain and all-rounder Orla Prendergast, after having a stint with Adelaide Strikers in the Women\u2019s Big Bash League (WBBL), where her team-mates included Smriti Mandhana, Laura Wolvaardt and Tahlia McGrath.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOrla has added a lot of value. Like, over the years she\u2019s become more confident in speaking in team meetings and things like that, especially when stepping into more of a leadership role. She brings a lot of experience, and has been added to it by playing in such a big tournament.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo, she\u2019s definitely helped a lot of players with just little bits on and off the pitch. She\u2019s definitely a real match winner hopefully can put in some really good performances for us,\u201d added Gaby, who recently played grade cricket in Melbourne.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Ireland currently occupies the last place in the ICC Women\u2019s Championship, Gaby highlighted the increased chances for Ireland in playing against bigger cricketing nations from this, as compared to the past.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBeing in the ICC Women\u2019s Championship also gives us the opportunity to play against those tough ranked nations, which wasn\u2019t as often offered previously as it is now. So, it\u2019s brilliant, and it\u2019s great that Zimbabwe are in the next one and the numbers are increasing. So it just gives those teams exposure to playing against those tough ranked nations, which is very exciting.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Ireland currently occupies the last place in the ICC Women\u2019s Championship, Gaby highlighted the increased chances for Ireland in playing against bigger cricketing nations from this, as compared to the past.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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