Amy Hunter to steer Eire squad for first-ever Below-19 Ladies’s T20 International Cup

Dublin, Dec 2 (IANS): Cricket Eire on Friday named Amy Hunter because the captain of the 15-member squad for collaborating within the first-ever ICC Below-19s Ladies’s T20 International Cup, to be held from January 14-29 in South Africa.

In 2021, Amy turned into the youngest participant to attain a global ODI century when she struck 121 no longer out for Eire ladies in opposition to Zimbabwe in Harare and was once additionally within the squad traveling Pakistan for the white-ball sequence.

“At first, I want to lengthen a large congratulations to the entire gamers decided on for the Irish squad on the first-ever Ladies’s U19 T20 International Cup. This is a nice alternative for all concerned and an opportunity to create lifelong recollections. I nonetheless fondly have in mind my revel in at an Below-19s International Cup a few years in the past. I’m very proud to be main this staff of very devoted, proficient and hardworking gamers.”

“Tournaments like those give the gamers an actual style of what it might be love to be a qualified cricket participant. Similarly, it is going to supply an perception into the depth, game-pressure and exhilaration of what the gamers may be expecting to satisfy in the primary ICC Ladies’s T20 International Cup down the road,” stated Glenn Querl, head trainer of Eire Below-19s Ladies’s staff.

Eire are in Staff C of the contest along Indonesia (on January 19), New Zealand (on January 17), and the West Indies (on January 15). The 16 groups within the event might be divided into 4 teams of 4, and play each and every aspect of their staff as soon as.

The highest 3 in each and every staff will development to the Tremendous Six degree, the place qualifying groups from Staff A will play in opposition to two of the qualifying groups from Staff D.

Likewise, qualifying groups from Staff B will play in opposition to two of the qualifying groups from Staff C. The highest two aspects from each and every of the Tremendous Six Leagues will development to the semifinals, and from there the groups enjoying the general might be determined.

“The squad travelled to Spain on the finish of October for apply video games and spent some high quality time fine-tuning their abilities. The crowd is made up of a few very thrilling all-rounders who be offering high quality with each bat and ball. There also are very promising spin and seam choices.”

“We even have the revel in of Amy Hunter and Georgina Dempsey who each have complete world caps to steadiness the inexperience of the more youthful gamers. Ten out of the 15-player squad might be to be had for the next International Cup cycle which could be very thrilling position to be as a squad,” added Querl.

The squad will go away on January 1 for a preparation camp on the College of Pretoria (all the way through this week they’re going to play unofficial warm-up fixtures in opposition to Zimbabwe and the UAE). It’ll be adopted by way of authentic warm-up video games in opposition to Pakistan and Namibia on January 9 and 11.

“It’s a thrilling time in any athlete’s existence to constitute your nation at the global degree. The advent of the Ladies’s U19 International Cup is an additional step in the best path in growing alternatives for feminine athletes.”

“Our personal programme has persevered to conform within the final collection of years in regards to feminine participation and home competitions. The advent of contracts and the senior efficiency squad’s upward curve below the steerage of Ed Joyce will simplest act as an inspiration to those younger gamers.”

“The gamers will expectantly have an unbelievable revel in as they compete in opposition to their friends from all over the world. I want them smartly and know this proficient staff will do us proud,” Albert van der Merwe, Eire’s Nationwide Skill Pathway Supervisor.

Benoni and Potchefstroom in South Africa might be enjoying hosts to the inaugural version of the U19 Ladies’s T20 International Cup. The 2 venues had been additionally the host towns for the 2020 U19 Males’s Cricket International Cup.

Eire squad: Amy Hunter (captain), Siúin Picket (VC), Zara Craig, Georgina Dempsey, Rebecca Gough, Abbi Harrison, Jennifer Jackson, Joanna Loughran, Niamh MacNulty, Aimee Maguire, Kia McCartney, Ellie McGee, Julie McNally, Freya Sargent, and Annabel Squires.

Non-travelling reserves: Aoife Fisher, Alice Walsh