WHILE tickets are flying out for the Australian Ashes duds’ trip to Belfast on the 27th, another side from Down Under is preparing for a visit here.
The Australian women are in Dublin for three T20s against Ireland in Sandymount on August 19, 21 and 22 – and no tickets are needed.
“We’ve been working really hard for this,” says Ireland’s teenage captain Kim Garth. “We’ve never been better prepared for a series like this.”
Garth was doing her Leaving Cert last year, and so has the advantage of having missed Ireland’s last game against the Aussies – a bruising 78-run defeat at the World T20 in Bangladesh.
Would the scars of Meg Lanning’s record 126 be still a bit raw?
“I don’t think so,” says Garth. “We’re looking forward to the biggest games of our summer and not looking back at all.
“We have the ability to compete with these sides and will be giving our all.”
New coach Aaron Hamilton has settled in well – “we’re all very fond of him” – and has brought new ideas and approaches.
The first signs of a resurgence came with two excellent wins over Notts and Sussex last month.
“We under-performed at the start of the summer but they were two really good wins over very good Division One sides. It’s given us a huge confidence boost.”
Another boost to the side would be the return after injury of Isobel Joyce – “she isn’t 100% ruled out”, says Garth. “To have her in the team would be great as she has such huge experience.”
***
MOST of the 86 women who have played for Ireland since they resumed internationals in 1983 were in Pembroke for a reunion on Saturday.
From first captain Mary Pat Moore to newest cap Gaby Lewis there were 55 players and 21 backroom staff at the dinner.
And masterminded by Janice Walsh and Ciara Metcalfe, each player was presented with a numbered badge based on the order they won their caps.
It’s a pity Cricket Ireland couldn’t stump up for numbered caps which would put the women on a par with the men’s team.
***
HATS off to Leinster who picked up the 50 over interpro title at the weekend and are this week playing the first of their remaining three games in the 3-day championship.
Under Trent Johnston’s two year reign they won two out of three titles each season, so a clean sweep in 2015 would be a feather in the cap of new coach Ted Williamson.
And provoke another verse of the team song ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’.
***
MERRION have a testing weekend ahead which could define or ruin their whole summer. On Friday night they make the half-mile trip down to Pembroke for the final of the Alan Murray Cup against Clontarf.
No celebrations however, as 15 hours later they entertain Civil Service North in the Irish Senior Cup semi-final.
And then on Sunday they host YMCA in a game they must win to keep in touch with the top of the league.
***
DO players try that bit harder against their former clubs? Already this season we’ve seen Reinhardt Strydom make 115 for Malahide against YMCA, but Saturday saw two more tons by players against old teammates.
Tom Fisher’s 114 for YM was at the expense of Railway, while Mikey Hogan’s maiden senior ton came at Terenure where he played until this season.
***
FIXTURES
Thursday: Div2: Leinster v Hills 5.30; Women’s Div1: Hills v Leinster, Merrion v Pembroke 6.0
Friday: Alan Murray Cup final: Clontarf v Merrion, Pembroke 5.30
Saturday: Div1: Malahide v Clontarf, Merrion v YMCA, Cork Co v North Co, Railway v Pembroke; Div2: YM2 v Leinster, Hills v Rush, Terenure v Balbriggan
Sunday: Irish Senior Cup semi-finals: Merrion v CSN, Pembroke v Waringstown 12.30
Wednesday: Women’s T20: Ireland v Australia, Claremont Road 4.30
The Australian women are in Dublin for three T20s against Ireland in Sandymount on August 19, 21 and 22 – and no tickets are needed.
“We’ve been working really hard for this,” says Ireland’s teenage captain Kim Garth. “We’ve never been better prepared for a series like this.”
Garth was doing her Leaving Cert last year, and so has the advantage of having missed Ireland’s last game against the Aussies – a bruising 78-run defeat at the World T20 in Bangladesh.
Would the scars of Meg Lanning’s record 126 be still a bit raw?
“I don’t think so,” says Garth. “We’re looking forward to the biggest games of our summer and not looking back at all.
“We have the ability to compete with these sides and will be giving our all.”
New coach Aaron Hamilton has settled in well – “we’re all very fond of him” – and has brought new ideas and approaches.
The first signs of a resurgence came with two excellent wins over Notts and Sussex last month.
“We under-performed at the start of the summer but they were two really good wins over very good Division One sides. It’s given us a huge confidence boost.”
Another boost to the side would be the return after injury of Isobel Joyce – “she isn’t 100% ruled out”, says Garth. “To have her in the team would be great as she has such huge experience.”
***
MOST of the 86 women who have played for Ireland since they resumed internationals in 1983 were in Pembroke for a reunion on Saturday.
From first captain Mary Pat Moore to newest cap Gaby Lewis there were 55 players and 21 backroom staff at the dinner.
And masterminded by Janice Walsh and Ciara Metcalfe, each player was presented with a numbered badge based on the order they won their caps.
It’s a pity Cricket Ireland couldn’t stump up for numbered caps which would put the women on a par with the men’s team.
***
HATS off to Leinster who picked up the 50 over interpro title at the weekend and are this week playing the first of their remaining three games in the 3-day championship.
Under Trent Johnston’s two year reign they won two out of three titles each season, so a clean sweep in 2015 would be a feather in the cap of new coach Ted Williamson.
And provoke another verse of the team song ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’.
***
MERRION have a testing weekend ahead which could define or ruin their whole summer. On Friday night they make the half-mile trip down to Pembroke for the final of the Alan Murray Cup against Clontarf.
No celebrations however, as 15 hours later they entertain Civil Service North in the Irish Senior Cup semi-final.
And then on Sunday they host YMCA in a game they must win to keep in touch with the top of the league.
***
DO players try that bit harder against their former clubs? Already this season we’ve seen Reinhardt Strydom make 115 for Malahide against YMCA, but Saturday saw two more tons by players against old teammates.
Tom Fisher’s 114 for YM was at the expense of Railway, while Mikey Hogan’s maiden senior ton came at Terenure where he played until this season.
***
FIXTURES
Thursday: Div2: Leinster v Hills 5.30; Women’s Div1: Hills v Leinster, Merrion v Pembroke 6.0
Friday: Alan Murray Cup final: Clontarf v Merrion, Pembroke 5.30
Saturday: Div1: Malahide v Clontarf, Merrion v YMCA, Cork Co v North Co, Railway v Pembroke; Div2: YM2 v Leinster, Hills v Rush, Terenure v Balbriggan
Sunday: Irish Senior Cup semi-finals: Merrion v CSN, Pembroke v Waringstown 12.30
Wednesday: Women’s T20: Ireland v Australia, Claremont Road 4.30