Ireland Academy side travel to Spain for ECC T10
Ireland Academy are taking part in the European Cricket Championship in Spain this week for the third time.
Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside France, Portugal, Guernsey and a 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.
“We are very excited to be returning to the Cartama Oval in Malaga for the 2024 European Cricket Championship which is an exciting, competitive and very well organised European International event," said Head Coach Pete Johnston.
"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.
Six hit for Jared Wilson
"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," added Johnston.
"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.
Tom Ford is a new face
"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 off just 28 balls to see Emerging Ireland home against West indies Academy."
Seamus Lynch
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
Finals Day
