Ireland Women’s recently-appointed National Spin Bowling Coach, James Cameron-Dow, believes Ireland’s spin bowling stocks represent a small but exciting group that have a big future in the game.

Cameron-Dow, 34, who took up the role over a month ago, is currently over with the Ireland Under-19s Women’s squad at the Sport England National School Games in Loughborough where the young Irish side is due to play Scotland Under-19s, West Indies Under-19s and three ECB Under-19s XIs across three days. 

A former Irish international who played a Test and four ODIs, started coaching while studying, and continued his coaching in parallel with playing over subsequent years.

He was prolific for the Northern Knights at interprovincial level, particularly in the now defunct 3-Day Championship, where he was the only bowler to have taken 10 wickets in a match - against the Warriors in 2014 - the following year his 8 wickets in an innings against the same opposition are the best figures in any match since the interpros restarted in 2013.

“Working with the senior squad has been fantastic – they are an engaged and talented group of players. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do going forward.

“With respect to the spinners, I wouldn’t say there are an abundance of them at the moment, but the cohort we have is very exciting. There is some real talent and potential to work with - and what’s just as important, they are all keen to learn and develop. It’s a great time to get involved with the programme.

“Hopefully, through this new role, I can bring a bit of clarity and structure to the entire spin bowling pathway. I think it’s important to have real purpose and drive when it comes to developing current and aspiring spinners, as well as potential future spinners - so hopefully that’s where I can assist most.”

THE SCHEDULE

The fixture schedule will begin with three one-day internationals that are part of the ICC Women’s Championship at Stormont, where the Irish side recently completed an historic 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka.

The two sides will then travel to Dublin where Clontarf will play host to an England Women’s side for the first time since 1995.

The fixtures are as follows:
7 September 2024: Ireland Women v England Women (1st ODI; Stormont; start 10.45am)
9 September 2024: Ireland Women v England Women (2nd ODI; Stormont; start 10.45am)
11 September 2024: Ireland Women v England Women (3rd ODI; Stormont; start 10.45am)
14 September 2024: Ireland Women v England Women (1st T20I; Clontarf; start 2.45pm)
15 September 2024: Ireland Women v England Women (1st T20I; Clontarf; start 2.45pm)