The side will return to play in the 2024 edition of the European Cricket Championship held at the Cartama Oval in Malaga in Spain.
The ECC T10 is an annual tournament played by European national teams, under the umbrella of the European Cricket Network.
32 teams will compete in this year’s tournament with 20 teams making up the the ECC Premier Division divided in to four groups of five. Ireland Academy have been drawn in Group A with France, Portugal, Guernsey and Scotland XI.
Winners from each of the four groups then qualify for Championship Week (15-19 October) along with last year’s champions (England XI) to compete for the title.
Previous champions: England XI (2021), Netherlands XI (2022), England XI (2023).
IRELAND ACADEMY SQUAD
- Alex Armstrong (CIYMS), Brian Dunphy (North County), Thomas Ford (Ireland U-17s), Adam Kennedy (Lisburn), Adam Leckey (CSNI), Seamus Lynch, vice captain (Terenure), Scott Macbeth (Brigade), Cameron Melly (Brigade), Daniel Murray (Pembroke), Jason van der Merwe (Muckamore), Matthew Weldon (The Hills), Jared Wilson, captain (Cliftonville Academy), Josh Wilson (Brigade)
Peter Johnston (Head Coach), Nigel Jones (Assistant Coach/Manager)
FIXTURES (Group A):
3 October
- Ireland Academy v Portugal (12:45pm) – Cartama Oval
- Ireland Academy v Guernsey (19:30pm) – Cartama Oval
4 October
- Ireland Academy v Scotland XI (12:45pm) – Cartama Oval
- Ireland Academy v France (17:30pm) – Cartama Oval
5 October
Ireland Academy side head coach, Peter Johnston spoke before tournament:
“We are very excited to be returning to the Cartama Oval in Malaga for the 2024 European Cricket Championship T10 competition, which is an exciting, competitive and very well organised European International event... Jared Wilson will captain the side for the second time and brings with him excellent experience from his time with North West Warriors. Having Nigel Jones on the coaching staff for his first T10 event will also bring fresh ideas, guidance and support for the players.”
On bringing in youth…
“Over the course of the last two previous events, we have had the youngest squad of all competing nations, with an average age of 20 and this year our squad will include five of our U-17s cricketers.“
How the side performed in 2023…
“I thought the team were excellent last year, progressing through the group stages and reaching finals day of finals week. In fact, reflecting on the stats over the last two events, we have been very consistent and performed at a high level. This year the group stages have been made stronger by including only the higher ranked teams, but we are looking forward to the challenge of striving for Finals week again in what should be a competitive week against four strong sides.“
The make up of this year’s squad…
“We have an exciting young squad, retaining 6 players from last year’s event and we have also added the experience of hard-hitting batsman Jason Van der Merwe who is very familiar with Cartama Oval and T10 having previously been awarded a Most Valuable Player award at the European Cricket League for his club performances. Having played IP T20 already, Jason also made his List A debut with The Northern Knights this summer scoring a 50.“
On further opportunities for players…
“Along with skill development and improving mental skills, the tournament is a great opportunity for talent identification and for players to showcase their talents – as highlighted by Seamus Lynch, who in the last two events has scored nine half centuries at strike-rates between 324 and 348. Since then, Seamus has shown how his consistent hitting can transition into performance domestically and internationally – scoring the fastest ever Inter Pro List A century off just 59 balls for Leinster Lightning in 2023 and this season playing a match-winning innings of 45 not out of just 28 balls to see Emerging Ireland home against West indies Academy.“
Additional info on how to follow the tournament here.