Ireland Women have confirmed their ODI squad for next week’s home series against West Indies Women, with the three-match contest at Bready marking the start of a crucial new ICC Women’s Championship campaign. For Irish cricket fans tracking Ireland cricket news, this series is more than a routine bilateral assignment — it is the opening step on the road to qualification for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2029.
Led by captain Gaby Lewis, Ireland will enter the series with confidence after defeating West Indies in their recent meeting at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. That result offered a timely boost, but the 50-over format brings a fresh challenge and fresh stakes as points now matter in the long-term championship table.
Ireland Women ODI squad named for West Indies series
Cricket Ireland has selected a 15-player group for the one-day internationals at Bready. The squad blends established names with developing talent and gives Ireland a strong platform to begin this new championship cycle.
- Gaby Lewis (captain)
- Christina Coulter Reilly
- Alana Dalzell
- Sarah Forbes
- Amy Hunter
- Arlene Kelly
- Louise Little
- Aimee Maguire
- Jane Maguire
- Kia McCartney
- Cara Murray
- Leah Paul
- Orla Prendergast (vice-captain)
- Rebecca Stokell
The squad announcement will be closely watched across women’s cricket Ireland circles, especially with several players expected to play major roles in the coming years of ODI competition.
Series dates, venue and ticket details
All three matches will be played at Bready, with each fixture scheduled to start at 10.45am.
- 10 July 2026: Ireland Women vs West Indies Women – 1st ODI
- 12 July 2026: Ireland Women vs West Indies Women – 2nd ODI
- 15 July 2026: Ireland Women vs West Indies Women – 3rd ODI
For supporters searching for cricket in Ireland and upcoming Ireland women fixtures, this is one of the most important home series of the summer. Tickets are available through Cricket Ireland.
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Why this ODI series matters in the ICC Women’s Championship
This series begins Ireland’s programme in the ICC Women’s Championship 2025–2029, the competition that will determine most of the automatic qualification places for the 2029 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
The championship includes 11 Full Member nations, with each side playing eight ODI series in total:
- Four at home
- Four away
- Twenty-four ODIs across the cycle
Ireland’s home assignments are against India, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies, while away trips will see them face England, Australia, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. That schedule underlines how valuable early points can become, especially for a team hoping to challenge higher-ranked opponents over a long qualification pathway.
How the points system works
The format is straightforward but highly competitive:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for a tie, no result or abandoned match
- 0 points for a loss
If teams finish level on points, standings are decided by number of wins, then net run rate, then head-to-head measures before original seeding is considered.
World Cup qualification explained
The 2029 Women’s Cricket World Cup will feature 10 teams. Eight places will be secured automatically by the host nation, if eligible, plus the next seven highest-ranked sides in the final championship standings. The remaining two berths will be decided through a six-team qualifier tournament.
That makes every match in this Ireland Women series significant. A strong return against West Indies Women could set the tone for the rest of the campaign and improve Ireland’s chances of avoiding the qualification playoff route.
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Players to watch for Ireland at Bready
Gaby Lewis remains central to Ireland’s hopes, both as captain and batter, while Orla Prendergast adds balance and leadership as vice-captain. Amy Hunter’s development will also be a major talking point for fans following Ireland women squad updates, and the bowling unit will be expected to deliver consistently across all three games.
Conditions at Bready could reward disciplined seam bowling and smart batting through the middle overs, making squad depth an important factor.
What this means for Ireland cricket
This ODI squad announcement is an important moment for Ireland Women and for the wider growth of women’s cricket in Ireland. The home series against West Indies offers a competitive test, a chance to build momentum, and an opportunity to make an early statement in the ICC Women’s Championship. For anyone following Ireland cricket news, the key takeaway is simple: these are not just three summer matches at Bready, but the first major steps in Ireland’s push toward the 2029 World Cup.
