Photo Credit: Oliver McVeigh
Cricket Ireland has today announced the fixture schedule and squads for the Super Series, Ireland’s premier domestic women’s cricket competition.
The Super Series features three representative teams – the Dragons, Scorchers and Typhoons – competing for the Super 50 Cup and the Super T20 Trophy [50-over and 20-over competitions respectively].
Key features of this year’s edition include:
Growing the game: Five matches will be played in Northern Ireland this year, continuing Cricket Ireland’s ambition to grow the profile and accessibility of the women’s game in the North.
Leadership: Irish internationals’ Rebecca Stokell (Typhoons), Gaby Lewis (Scorchers) and Leah Paul (Dragons) will captain the teams.
Coaching: James Cameron-Dow and Paul Davidge remain head coaches of the Dragons and Typhoons respectively. The Scorchers will have a new head coach for 2023 after Glenn Querl moved to a full-time role with the Ireland Women’s senior and pathway set-up – the announcement on the new coach will be made shortly.
Growing the profile: Cricket Ireland, in partnership with HBV Studios, will once again provide livestreaming of every match in the competition (over 1 million views)
Improving the quality: two overseas players will be added to each squad (announced shortly) to enhance the quality and depth of the competition’s talent
THE SQUADS
Scorchers
Gaby Lewis (capt) (YMCA), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Anna Kerrison (Pembroke), Annabel Squires (Merrion), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf), Ellie McGee (Rush), Genevieve Morrissey (Clontarf), Hannah Little (Pembroke), Isabelle McLean (Balbriggan), Jane Maguire (The Hills), Jenny Sparrow (Leinster), Julie McNally (Clontarf), Lara Maritz (Balbriggan), Niamh MacNulty (Merrion), Shauna Kavanagh (WK) (Pembroke), Siúin Woods (YMCA), Sophie MacMahon (Leinster).
Scorchers captain Gaby Lewis said:
“Preparations have been going really well – we started pretty early as a team, which has been great. While I’ve been away at the Fairbreak Invitational, vice-captain Sophie MacMahon has been leading the group and has kept me in the loop. As back-to-back double winners, we’re definitely there to be shot at. Year-on-year the competitiveness of the Super Series has improved – this year should be no different.
“It’s great to see the new players coming through. I think that was the benefit of the Under-19 World Cup to see those players really shine under pressure, and it’s great to have that there. Competition for places in the team will be intense – and that will only drive standards higher still.
“As a platform for international honours, the Super Series has shown its worth in recent years. A good season, playing well in the Super Series, can change everything. It’s obviously a step down from international level, but if you do well, the next thing is a senior call up, so it’s very exciting to have those opportunities for the girls as well.”
Dragons
Leah Paul (capt) (Merrion), Abbi Harrison (Waringstown), Alana Dalzell (Bready), Amy Caulfield (Muckamore), Amy Hunter (WK) (Malahide/Instonians), Aoife Fisher (CSNI), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Cara Murray (Saintfield/Waringstown/Clontarf), Jemma Gillan (CSNI), Jenni Jackson (Eginton), Jess Mayes (CSNI), Kate McEvoy (YMCA), Kia McCartney (Coleraine), Mollie Devine (Fox Lodge), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke), Zara Craig (Eglinton).
Dragons head coach James Cameron-Dow said:
“I’m obviously looking forward to the season, especially in our second season since our return to the competition. Hopefully, we’ll be able to build on some of the things that we did last year and a few processes that we are trying to put in place. It’s been difficult in the winter with the dynamics of the squad, everyone coming from all over the place. But you know, the girls have all been working very hard in their different groups and in their different unions, and it’s just about bringing that all together now as we come closer to the season.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the new players coming in will cope and where they’re at in comparison to the rest of the girls. There will certainly be competition for places, but at the same time it will be very difficult to set the expectations and targets based on the nature of the competition and the availability of players and so on. I think just as long as we play good cricket, tick the right boxes and do what we set out to do, I’ll be happy enough with that. We’re going to be a little bit more focused on ourselves and how we go about things, and less focused on where we finish with regards to results and logs and how we compete in other games. So that’s pretty much the expectation for us this year.
“Personally, I really enjoy the coaching role. It’s a challenge getting them all together at the same time on a regular basis, but this year we’re a little bit clearer on what we are trying to do as a squad and how we want to go forward. Now we’re just putting that into practice.
“I think the women’s game in the North is getting stronger every year, but it’s a patience game – trying to put in the right structures and the right processes in place. We’re getting there, and it’s exciting to be part of the journey.”
Typhoons
Rebecca Stokell (capt) (Merrion), Alice Tector (YMCA), Alice Walsh (Clontarf), Ava Canning (Leinster), Celeste Raack (Merrion), Freya Sargent (Clontarf), Georgina Dempsey (YMCA), Jane Butterly (Rush), Joanna Loughran (Leinster), Lara McBride (The Hills), Laura Delany (Leinster), Louise Little (Pembroke), Mary Waldron (WK) (Pembroke), Rebecca Gough (The Hills), Sarah Forbes (YMCA), Sinead Thompson (Clontarf).
Typhoons head Paul Davidge coach said:
“I’m very much looking forward to this season with the Typhoons. Following the experiences many of our players had at either the Under-19 or Senior World Cup this winter we have a squad of players who have a much stronger foundation to build from. As the Super Series continues to evolve, so does the players’ desire to put in stand-out performances, which in turn will make their case for national selection stronger.
“We have clear targets and expectations set out to all of the players. We’ve challenged players with the prospect of performing in pressurised situations and to back themselves to play naturally and with complete freedom. We have clear outlines and aims for our winter training, which are directly linked to our plans for the season.
“It’s great having more time with the group this year. We have already had three pre-season sessions and have a further three before the first game. It is an exciting time for this squad, and I am looking forward to working alongside some very talented players once again. We feel much more settled this year and the group has a real togetherness that will put us in a strong position as we head into the first games.”
New to Super Series captaincy, Typhoons captain Rebecca Stokell said:
“I was very proud when Paul called and asked me to take on the role during the winter. I had an opportunity to captain some of the games at the end of last season when Dells (Laura Delany) was injured, so was very happy to take it on properly this year.
“It’s exciting the number of new girls that have joined the competition – many of them really impressed at the Under-19’s World Cup and put their names forward, so it’ll be really exciting to see what they can do at this level. The aim for us this season is to start with a positive, fearless brand of cricket. We don’t want to carry any baggage from last season. We’ve been unlucky with injuries previously and with new faces to the squad we are ready to turn a corner.”
FOLLOW THE SERIES
All matches will be livestreamed (announcement made shortly) and live-scored on our Match Centre.
THE FIXTURE SCHEDULE
Name of Author: Cricket Ireland
Cricket Ireland, officially known as The Irish Cricket Union Company Limited by Guarantee, is the governing body for cricket on the island of Ireland. It oversees the national men’s and women’s teams and organizes the Inter-Provincial Series, Super 3s, and All-Ireland club competitions. Ireland achieved Test status for women in 2000 and for men in 2017 when it became a Full Member of the ICC.
