New Ireland women’s cricket captain Gaby Lewis believes she is more than ready to take on the role ahead of the ODI series against Bangladesh.
As well as three ODI games, the first of which is on Wednesday, the Irish will also take on Bangladesh in three T20 encounters.
The ODIs will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship which leads to World Cup qualification.
The Women’s Championship consists of 10 teams with hosts India and five other countries automatically qualifying for the World Cup in 2025, with Ireland currently bottom of the group with three wins from 18 games.
The Irish will wrap up their series against India in January before heading to the final qualifiers next March.
Gaby Lewis takes over from Laura Delany as skipper in something a surprise move by the Irish selectors and head coach Ed Joyce, the decision announced when Delany was out injured.
Delany has, however, been included in the squad for Bangladesh as the all-rounder continues her rehab from a bad leg ankle injury sustained in the 2-1 series win against Sri Lanka in August which saw Lewis’s step in as temporary captain.
Speaking to RTE Sport Lewis said “I wasn’t terrible surprised (to take over) as I had filled in and I didn’t necessarily feel that I wasn’t ready.
“I spoke to Ed and was happy to take over, happy and privileged.
“Laura and I will speak about it in Bangladesh and look she has been brilliant, coming to training with a great attitude.
“Laura is a competitor at the end of the day and she understands professional sports and no doubt she will play every game and wear her heart on her sleeve like she always does.
“Over the years I have learnt so much from her, not only from a leadership point of view but from a cricketing point of view as well. She will be someone I will rely on as well and it is brilliant to have her in the squad.
“I think Laura is the only squad member who has played in Bangladesh before which is huge for us as she can give us information on our opponents and how the pitches will play.”
Vice-captain Orla Prendergast joined the Irish squad on Friday evening after travelling from Australia where she played nine matches for the Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash League.
The 22-year-old, capped 85 times for her country, is hoping Ireland can maintain what has been an upward trajectory for the side this last year.
Speaking to cricketireland.ie, she said: “Looking back at their games in the past 12 to 24 months there’s been a lot of spin bowled. That’s definitely been a key theme we’ve been discussing and preparing for. Bangladesh have got a couple of seamers as well that have been in pretty good form. So that’s what we’ll be looking out for.
“But I think when it comes to analysis, it’s also been about focusing on our own games to be honest. I think we know how well we’ve played towards the back end of our summer, but also in the past 12 months we’ve really come on as a team and grown together so as much as we focus on them and we obviously know about their key bowlers and key batters.
“I think a lot of it is focusing on our own strengths to take Bangladesh on.”
There has been one change to the original Ireland squad as Alana Dalzell has been called up as a replacement for the injured Jane Maguire
Dalzell has 13 caps for Ireland since debuting in 2022.
Her last involvement in competitive action for Ireland was her dramatic lofted boundary off the last ball of the third ODI against England in September to win a nail-biting encounter in Belfast.
Bangladesh and Ireland – who last met in 2022 – have played 18 times across the two formats.
The series will run until 9 December.
Ireland ODI squad:
Gaby Lewis (captain) (Phoenix), Ava Canning (Leinster), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf), Laura Delany (Leinster), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Malahide), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Alana Dalzell (Bready), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf), Leah Paul (Merrion), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke), Una Raymond-Hoey (Ringwood), Freya Sargent (Clontarf), Alice Tector (Phoenix).
Ireland T20 squad:
Gaby Lewis (captain) (Phoenix), Ava Canning (Leinster), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf), Laura Delany (Leinster), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Malahide), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Jane Maguire (The Hills), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf), Leah Paul (Merrion), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke), Una Raymond-Hoey (Ringwood), Freya Sargent (Clontarf), Rebecca Stokell (Merrion)
Schedule (Irish times)
27 November: Bangladesh v Ireland (1st ODI; Mirpur; start 4am)
30 November: Bangladesh v Ireland (2nd ODI; Mirpur; start 4am)
2 December: Bangladesh v Ireland (3rd ODI; Mirpur; start 4am)
5 December: Bangladesh v Ireland (1st T20I; Sylhet; start 8am)
7 December: Bangladesh v Ireland (2nd T20I; Sylhet; start 8am)
9 December: Bangladesh v Ireland (3rd T20I; Sylhet; start 4am)