MIRPUR, Bangladesh – Ireland Women’s vice-captain Orla Prendergast spoke from the team hotel earlier today ahead of Ireland Women’s ODI series against Bangladesh Women starting on Wednesday.
Prendergast, 22, has earned 85 caps for Ireland since her debut in 2019 – already making her the 12th-most capped player for Ireland Women. The one-time footballer who chose instead to pursue a cricket career believes she made the right decision. About her cricket life, she said:
“I’m absolutely loving it – it’s a bit of a dream. Looking back at our recent home season, we had such a positive and encouraging end to that summer with those brilliant wins against England and Sri Lanka. Then I suppose personally to be able to head to the Big Bash was huge. It was such a good experience as an opportunity for myself. So, it’s been kind of a whirlwind few months in a way, but yeah – absolutely loving it.”
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:
“It was very cool, very fun. But challenging at times, definitely. I think the standard there is obviously a whole different ball game in a sense. But it was extremely enjoyable. I played a new role with bat and ball which I suppose is the good – and the challenging – thing about franchise cricket. But on the whole it was such a cool experience and a lot of learnings which hopefully I can take into this series.”
What does she expect from Bangladesh?
“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. They obviously 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.”
SCHEDULE
The series will be played between 27 November and 9 December with all games live-streamed on the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Youtube channel.
- 27 November 2024: Bangladesh v Ireland (1st ODI; Mirpur; start 10am)
- 30 November 2024: Bangladesh v Ireland (2nd ODI; Mirpur; start 10am)
- 2 December 2024: Bangladesh v Ireland (3rd ODI; Mirpur; start 10am)
- 5 December 2024: Bangladesh v Ireland (1st T20I; Sylhet; start 2pm)
- 7 December 2024: Bangladesh v Ireland (2nd T20I; Sylhet; start 2pm)
- 9 December 2024: Bangladesh v Ireland (3rd T20I; Sylhet; start 10am)
* all times local to the venue
The three ODIs are part of the ICC Women’s Championship.
SQUADS
Ireland Women ODI Squad:
- Gaby Lewis (captain) (Phoenix), Ava Canning (Leinster), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf), Alana Dalzell (Bready), Laura Delany (Leinster), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Malahide), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf), Leah Paul (Merrion), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke), Una Raymond-Hoey (Ringwood), Freya Sargent (Clontarf), Alice Tector (Phoenix).
Ireland Women T20 Squad:
- Gaby Lewis (captain) (Phoenix), Ava Canning (Leinster), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf), Alana Dalzell (Bready), Laura Delany (Leinster), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Malahide), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf), Leah Paul (Merrion), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke), Una Raymond-Hoey (Ringwood), Freya Sargent (Clontarf), Rebecca Stokell (Merrion).