World T20 preview: Ireland

Ireland squad: Laura Delany (c), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Amy Kenealy, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Lucy O’Reilly, Celeste Raack, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron

Fixtures: 11 November v Australia, 13 November v Pakistan, 15 November v India, 17 November v New Zealand

Best result: Group stage (2014, 2016)

ICC ranking: 10th

The talking point: Australian-born Celeste Raack, who plays for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes, is the new face in Ireland’s squad for the World T20. She joins fellow familiar faces in Ireland veteran Isobel Joyce, who has turned out for both Tasmania and Hobart previously, and quick Kim Garth, who was part of the Sydney Sixers’ successful WBBL|02 and WBBL|03 campaigns. The squad boasts more than 1000 international caps and will be captained by Laura Delany.

The star: Kim Garth is a familiar face for Australian Big Bash fans, having been part of Sydney Sixers’ successful campaigns in WBBL|02 and WBBL|03 as an international replacement player. She came into the league as an ICC international rookie, but was so impressive that she was elevated to the senior ranks. The 22-year-old right-arm pacer is no stranger to facing the world’s most powerful batters and will have taken plenty from her time playing with the Sixers alongside Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry. Her experience will come in very handy as Ireland look to win a match at a World T20 tournament for the first time. She knocked over Australia skipper Meg Lanning at the 2016 tournament, so she’s got the skills to rival the world’s best.

The one to watch: Big Bash fans will be eager to see how Raack performs in her first major tournament for her adopted nation. It’s a bold and exciting move from the 24-year-old, who plans to permanently relocate to Ireland to pursue her international cricket dream.

The verdict: Ireland have never won a match at a World T20 tournament so breaking through for that maiden international victory will be the priority for what is an experience Irish squad at their third World T20 appearance. As the lowest-ranked competing nation, they’re unlikely to rival the likes of Australia, New Zealand and India for a spot in the semi-finals, but they’ll have their sights set on causing an upset or two along the way. To their advantage, they do have three players with Big Bash experience in their squad, so they’ll be better versed on their opponents than in previous years, while Gaby Lewis was an associate rookie with the Melbourne Renegades last summer. In 2016, they upset South Africa, so you can’t take anything for granted against this team.

2018 ICC Women's World T20  

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

November 9: Australia v Pakistan, Province Stadium, Guyana

November 11: Australia v Ireland, Province Stadium

November 13: Australia v New Zealand, Province Stadium

November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium

November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua

November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground