Kelly and Tector Back After Injury Layoffs

Arlene Kelly and Alice Tector have returned to the Ireland Women's squad after recovering from injuries, as Cricket Ireland announced a 14-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England. Gaby Lewis will lead the side, with the series forming part of the ICC Women's Championship.

The squad also includes uncapped Kia McCartney, who earns a call-up. However, Aimee Maguire, Sarah Forbes, and Ava Canning all miss out due to injuries.

Tour Schedule

Ireland will kick off their tour with a warm-up match against an ECB Development XI in Leicester on August 29. The three ODIs against England begin in Leicester on September 1, followed by a match in Derby on September 3, and the series concludes in Worcester on September 6.

Full Squad

Gaby Lewis (captain), Christina Coulter Reilly, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector.

Selector's Perspective

Recently appointed Ireland National Women's Selector Lauren Rowles expressed confidence in the squad and highlighted the growing depth in Irish women's cricket.

"Since starting in this role, I have come to appreciate two key aspects of the Ireland Women's system. There is real competition for places in the short-term and there is an exciting depth of talent coming through the pipeline which is promising for the medium-to-long term," Rowles said.

"To have genuine competition for places within a senior squad is important as it drives standards and raises the desire of players to achieve more with every opportunity they get. This makes my role harder, which is a good thing, as we try to match the skill sets offered by players to the roles that our tactics require. Form is crucial, but only one aspect that was considered. What we are looking for is to develop a squad that understands what is required at this level to succeed - and you can only do that through first-hand experience."

Rowles also emphasised the importance of the ICC Women's Championship in the team's development: "That's why the ICC Women's Championship is so important. It provides a regular programme of fixtures against the world's best sides, which in turn benefits the development and competitiveness of our players. Last month's series against the West Indies was a case in point. While results didn't go our way, the exposure that many of our players had to competing against one of the world's best sides really drove the desire of our players to set their sights at that level."