To former captain Isobel Joyce, one moment highlighted Ireland’s newfound confidence in women’s cricket. Before taking on Sri Lanka, the reigning Asia Cup champions last month, batter Una Raymond-Hoey declared that they were targeting victories in the T20 and one-day international series.

“She said it so casually,” recalls Joyce. “I thought: ‘Really? That’s a big call’.”

Not an outlandish one, though. Ireland drew the T20 series 1-1 before going on to fulfil Raymond-Hoey’s prediction in the ODIs with a 2-1 scoreline. As England’s women prepare for their forthcoming white-ball tour of Belfast and Dublin, the results were further evidence of Ireland’s rise since they turned professional in 2022.

Just over 12 months ago, Dublin-born Kim Garth opened the bowling for Australia in the Ashes. Her decision to eschew the green tops of Ireland was made because her home country could not offer professional cricket opportunities. But in a moment of poetic irony, Ireland introduced full-time cricket contracts in the same year Garth made her Australian debut.

With the ability to offer salaries, full-time coaching, strength and conditioning programmes and even something as basic as kit, Ireland can hold on to their best talent.

Led by head coach Ed Joyce, a former captain of Sussex and Isobel’s brother, and spearheaded by the promising batting trio of Orla Prendergast, Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter, Ireland have beaten South Africa, Pakistan, Australia and Sri Lanka since those contracts were signed.

It is a far cry from the generation of players who suffered financially for the privilege of representing their country. “It was big for us when we didn’t have to pay for our own gear or flights,” explains Isobel Joyce, who played from 1999-2018. “We got match fees in two World Cups, that was it. We often had to fundraise, my brother gave me a few hundred quid going to New Zealand in 2000.”

The Power Hitting Revolution

The starkest improvement has come in power hitting. When Joyce played, Clare Shillington was Ireland’s best batter. Her T20I career strike-rate was 99. Lewis (116), Prendergast (117) and Hunter (112) score their runs quicker, a development Joyce puts down to the players being stronger, better pitches and lighter bats that are better suited to the required stroke play.

Previous generations of players, including Garth, Shillington and Joyce’s sister, Cecelia, could be forgiven for wondering what might have been. “We were talking about it when they had those wins [over Sri Lanka], they’re so lucky they’re in this era,” says Isobel Joyce. “The word used was envious rather than jealous, you don’t want to take it away from them. We fought all our careers knowing it was for the next generation.”

Looking Ahead: The Next Steps

Further improvements, on and off the pitch, are required. A surprise qualifying defeat by Scotland denied Ireland a spot in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Training facilities and player salaries, which have improved recently, must improve further.

Regardless, the signs are positive. Following up a one-off T20I win with an ODI series victory over Sri Lanka was the first time Ireland had had sustained success against a top side.

England, even without their T20 World Cup frontliners, will present a different challenge. One that Ireland relish. Quiet optimism abounds that, as they continue to grow, the next progression could include beating their nearest neighbours for the first time since 2001.

The Future is Bright: Ireland's Rising Stars

With the average age of the Irish squad less than 22 years, this talented squad has a bright future ahead if current potential continues to blossom. Two young players at the forefront of this ‘new generation’ are Freya Sargent and Alice Tector.

Freya Sargent: A Family Affair in Cricket

Sargent, 18, made her international debut in August 2023 and has played seven T20Is and seven ODIs to date. The right-arm off-break bowler from Clontarf Cricket Club has taken 16 wickets across formats, with a best of 3-29 against Zimbabwe in January this year.

Speaking at training ahead of the England series, Sargent said:

“It’s been a whirlwind last 18 months - just before I started my exams, I was offered a full-time contract which allowed me to choose between cricket or college which was an incredible position to be in.

“I made my youth international debut in 2019 in the Netherlands at the age of 13 – to make my senior debut four years later in the same country felt like a full circle moment. I think I still have the picture of Clare Shillington handing me the cap all those years ago and to be paired with the most recent one of Rebecca Stokell handing me my cap. It really shows how much I’ve changed since then!

“It has certainly taken me a while to get comfortable playing at international level – but the Under-19s was a great starting point to lead into international cricket. That experience shows what tournament cricket could be like and what touring could be like outside of the senior set up.”

About her family connections to Irish cricket, she said:

“Cricket has been an absolute massive part of my family for so many years. My grandmother, Phillis Spence, started the women’s team in Clontarf all those years ago, while my grandfather, Dickie Spence, was an incredible club member - always on hand when you needed him.

“My auntie, Adele Spence, started her cricket out in Clontarf and then had to move to Malahide to be eligible for Ireland - and she played in 1996. She played eight ODIs all up.

“Another auntie, Linda Spence, moved away and played for Scotland.”

Alice Tector: Following in Brother's Footsteps

Tector, 16, made her international debut in August 2024 and has played two ODIs to date. The right-arm medium-fast bowling all-rounder from Phoenix Cricket Club is the younger sister of Irish international Harry Tector.

Speaking from training, Tector talked about the feelings around making her debut:

“I found out my first call-up when my mum and dad got a call from [selector] Ciara O’Brien. I was actually with them at the time – and, to be honest, I couldn’t really sit still for a while. I was so excited.

“But then we were up in Belfast one of the days and I had a chat with Ed Joyce and he just said I would be playing in the first ODI. That was definitely when the nerves started kicking in - but I couldn’t wait to get on the pitch.

“It was amazing to be presented with my first cap for Ireland, more so with Gaby [Lewis] there presenting it to me. We’re really close and our families have always been really close. It was really special. But then with my family there as well supporting me.

“Then I remember just standing at the top of my mark, thinking that I was bowling to some of the best batters in the world. I’ve always wanted to do this since I was really young, so finally being there was pretty special. And I was quite glad to get that first ball out of the way!”

A first wicket is a special moment – what did she remember about it?

“Well, I wasn’t too happy with how I was bowling at the time, I was kind of struggling to find my length. My plan was just to bowl top of off stump, and then she [Kavisha Dilhari] tried to kind of hit me over mid-wicket. Luckily she didn’t fully connect and it was caught by Jane Maguire. It was a great feeling.”

England next?

“We’re really excited for the games against England. They’ve obviously got some new players coming into their squad but that doesn’t change anything for us. We’re really excited for the challenge and hopefully we can come off with the series win.

“We have obviously just come off a really good series win against Sri Lanka, so we just want to continue to be really positive and bring some of that cricket into the upcoming games.”

The future of Irish women's cricket looks bright. With a new generation of players emerging and a supportive environment, the team is poised to achieve even greater success in the years to come. Ireland has found its new generation, one with more resources and a renewed sense of purpose, and it is looking forward to seeing what they can achieve.