IRELAND WOMEN have named their squads for the forthcoming series against South Africa which gets under way at the start of August.
The 'Girls in Green' will play two T20 Internationals at YMCA on Monday August 1 and 3, before playing four one-day internationals across Leinster on the 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th of August.
Left-arm medium pacer Leah Paul is included in the senior ranks for the first time in the T20 squad after the 16 year-old impressed in recent displays with Ireland A and The Typhoons in the Toyota Super 3 series.
Meg Kendal is also in line to make her international debut having been named in the 14-player ODI squad. The 26 year-old batter/wicketkeeper played two uncapped matches in the County Championship last season scoring a half century against Worcestershire.
"With a couple new players coming into this Ireland squad from the Toyota Super 3's competition it creates some healthy competition amongst the playing group," said Head Coach Aaron Hamilton.
"We have some really talented players coming through our system and competing in series against South Africa and Bangladesh are key to our development on the international stage.
"We have an opportunity to expose a couple of younger players in this series and allow them to see what international cricket is all about," added Hamilton.
Ireland's Laura Delany will captain the side for the first time having taken over the reins from Isobel Joyce recently, and will have Kim Garth as her deputy.
Although Joyce has stepped down as captain, she is still very much a crucial player for the team - currently listed as the 7th best all-rounder in the latest ICC T20I rankings.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how Laura and Kim take this group forward over the next couple of months," said Hamilton. "As a group we start our road to the qualification tournament for the ICC Women’s World Cup which will be held in England in 2017 and this series against South Africa is a great way to start."
Entry to all the games in the series is free. Further details can be found on the Cricket Ireland website www.cricketireland.ie
IRELAND WOMEN T20I Squad
Laura Delany (Captain), (Dragons), Cath Dalton (Typhoons), Kim Garth (Scorchers), Jennifer Gray (Dragons), Isobel Joyce (Scorchers), Shauna Kavanagh (Dragons), Amy Kenealy (Typhoons), Gaby Lewis (Dragons), Louise McCarthy (Dragons), Ciara Metcalfe (Dragons), Lucy O’Reilly (Scorchers), Leah Paul (Typhoons), Clare Shillington (Typhoons), Mary Waldron (Dragons)
IRELAND WOMEN ODI Squad
Laura Delany (Captain) (Dragons), Cath Dalton (Typhoons), Kim Garth (Scorchers), Cecelia Joyce, (Dragons), Isobel Joyce (Scorchers), Meg Kendal (Scorchers), Amy Kenealy (Typhoons), Gaby Lewis, (Dragons), Louise McCarthy (Dragons), Ciara Metcalfe (Dragons), Lucy O’Reilly (Scorchers), Una Raymond-Hoey (Scorchers), Clare Shillington (Typhoons), Mary Waldron (Dragons)
FIXTURES
Monday 1st August, Ireland v South Africa, T20I at YMCA (4pm)
Wednesday 3rd August, Ireland v South Africa, T20I at YMCA (4pm)
Friday 5th August, Ireland v South Africa, ODI at Merrion (10.45am)
Sunday 7th August, Ireland v South Africa, ODI at YMCA (10.45am)
Tuesday 9th August, Ireland v South Africa, ODI at Malahide (10.45am)
Thursday 11th August, Ireland v South Africa, ODI at The Hills (10.45am)