IRELAND WOMEN have named an 18 strong winter training squad to help in their preparations for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers early next year.
Ireland Women beat South Africa twice and also Bangladesh during the past season and Head Coach Aaron Hamilton is encouraged by the results and progress of his young charges ahead of the important tournament in 2017.
"This is an exciting couple of months leading into the World Cup qualifiers in February," said Hamilton. "This group has performed really well throughout the summer and they're starting to progress their game to the next level."
While Cath Dalton isn't available due to personal reasons, there are two new faces in the squad with teenagers Lara Maritz and Cara Murray included for the first time. Hamilton is excited about the pair's potential who he thinks will help keep the squad fresh.
"This training block before Christmas allows us to get a couple of our better young players introduced to the senior system. Lara is a promising young right arm quick out of Malahide, while Cara is a young leg spinner from the NCU who has impressed in the Toyota Super 3's competition. I've no doubt both will have a big future in the game."
Four of the selected squad are currently playing in Australia and Hamilton sees that as a positive development for the players and Irish cricket.
"Having Laura Delany, Shauna Kavanagh, Isobel Joyce and Mary Waldron in Australia for the winter continuing to play cricket is only going to be an advantage for us going forward. It'll help sharpen their game playing tough cricket in an exceptional environment."
The Ireland Women's Winter Training Squad is as follows:
IRELAND WOMEN WINTER TRAINING SQUAD
Laura Delany (capt) (Dragons), Kim Garth (vice capt) (Scorchers), Cecelia Joyce (Dragons), Isobel Joyce (Scorchers), Shauna Kavanagh (Dragons), Meg Kendal (Scorchers), Amy Kenealy (Typhoons), Gaby Lewis (Dragons), Robyn Lewis (Typhoons), Lara Maritz (Dragons), Louise McCarthy (Dragons), Ciara Metcalfe (Dragons), Cara Murray (Scorchers), Lucy O’Reilly (Scorchers), Leah Paul (Typhoons), Una Raymond Hoey (Scorchers), Clare Shillington (Typhoons), Mary Waldron (Dragons).