Photo Credit: Rodney Smythe
DUBLIN – Stephen Doheny, the 21-year old Rush Cricket Club wicketkeeper-batsman, has had a rollercoaster of a year – from playing cricket in Australia and South Africa, he was called up as cover foe the senior international side in India, then went into lockdown, and now is set to captain a representative development team ahead of the start of the Test Triangle Inter-Provincial Series. Despite the airmiles and uncertainty, he is taking 2020 in his stride.
Doheny has been announced today as the captain of the Southern XII for a two-match T20 development series against a Northern XII team.
He said:
“I’m looking forward to it, it’s an exciting squad of players and we’re all keen to get the series underway. The series will be particularly beneficial to the guys who will be involved in the inter-provincial series – the opportunity to gain some time in the middle against good opposition should put us in good stead, whilst giving many players the chance to showcase their skills and put their hand up for representative honours going forward.”
“Given the senior squad’s recent success, I’m sure all the guys had a close eye on the game and will be motivated more than ever to show they’re the next best. Hopefully, it can be a competitive series with plenty of skill on show.”
Asked about the captaincy role, he said:
“Captaincy is definitely an aspect of my game I’m looking to acquire and improve on with every opportunity I get – I enjoy the responsibility and the pressures involved. These games will be another opportunity to learn and gain some more experience in the role.”
Doheny recently captained a side in the Academy & Regional Development Series, and was impressed with the standard of games despite the lack of game time players had accumulated this season:
“The Academy & Regional Development Series was a fantastic opportunity to get some game time under my belt, and involved a series of matches that proved to be highly competitive with exciting young talent on show. These fixtures, in addition to the club cricket I’ve played so far, have provided me with some solid preparation for the inter-provincial series coming up at the end of the month.”
“Any time you can spend out in the middle at the beginning of a new season is invaluable – and with the added roles of being captain and wicketkeeping, these are opportunities I haven’t experienced before, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.”
Looking back on 2020, Doheny reflected on a year that – even despite the lockdown – has still provided many positives in his cricket development:
“2020 did start very promisingly on an individual front. Off the back of a magnificent winter playing cricket in Sydney, I was fortunate to put in some good performances for the Ireland Wolves in South Africa, and then got a call up as cover for the T20I series away to Afghanistan. Looking back, I was hopeful that this could have been a breakthrough season for me. I was extremely confident in my game and excited for what the season had to offer. Unfortunately, that was halted by the pandemic, but my plans haven’t changed.”
“During lockdown I just tried to remain positive – I was able to focus on my fitness and mindset, which put me in good shape once matches returned.”
“The online learning and home-based challenges were extremely helpful, and allowed us to dive into elements of our game that we mightn’t have looked at if the season was in full flow. In addition, the masterclasses that some of the international players ran gave us great an insight into their careers, mindset and plans which were great for the younger guys to get that level of access.”
Pete Johnston, Academy and Performance Manager for Cricket Ireland, said:
“Stephen worked exceptionally hard throughout all his years in the Academy and during his scholarship with Randwick Petersham and the International Cricket Academy last winter. He continues to learn from all his Academy, Provincial and Wolves experiences and keeps moving his game forward in all his disciplines, batting, wicket keeping, fielding and in the last 12 months we have really started his potential resulting in consistent performances with the bat. His captaincy was excellent during the recent Leinster-based Development Series and he led the way with the bat scoring 166 runs in 4 games at an average of 55 with a strike rate of 140.”
Series details
• 13 August: Northern XII v Southern XII (Lisburn, starts 2pm)
• 17 August: Southern XII v Northern XII (Malahide, starts 2pm)
Squads
The Southern XII match-day squads are:
Southern XII (13 August @ Lisburn)
• Stephen Doheny (capt)
• Seamus Lynch
• Jeremy Lawlor
• Greg Ford
• Tim Tector
• Fiachra Tucker
• Rory Anders
• Mitchell Thompson
• Jamie MacNulty
• Theo Dempsey
• Ben White
• Mike Frost
Southern XII (17 August @ Malahide)
• Stephen Doheny (capt)
• Seamus Lynch
• Jeremy Lawlor
• Jack Tector
• Tim Tector
• Fiachra Tucker
• Rory Anders
• Mitchell Thompson
• Jamie MacNulty
• Theo Dempsey
• Ben White
• Mikey O’Reilly
The Northern XII match day squads are:
Northern XII (13 August @ Lisburn)
• Shane Getkate (capt)
• Ross Adair
• Ryan Hunter
• James Hunter
• Neil Rock
• CJ Van Der Walt
• Kyle Magee
• Ross Allen
• Jacob Mulder
• Mathew Foster
• Conor Olphert
• Joshua Manley
Northern XII (17 August @ Malahide)
• Shane Getkate (capt)
• Ross Adair
• Morgan Topping
• James Hunter
• Neil Rock
• CJ Van Der Walt
• Kyle Magee
• Ross Allen
• Carl Robinson
• David Delany
• Conor Olphert
• Joshua Manley
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.
