LARA McBRIDE is the new face in the two Ireland squads named yesterday to take on Zimbabwe later this month in T20 and one-day international series.

McBride, a 19-year-old off-spinner who plays for The Hills, was one of the stand out performers at the U19 World Cup in January and has continued to impress in domestic competitions.

Lloyd Tennant, the new Head Coach of the women’s team, is looking forward to the five matches — three T20s at Sydney Parade, and two ODIs in Belfast — and hopes to expand on the work of predecessor Ed Joyce who stood down at the end of April.

“My aim during the next few weeks and months is to build on the strong foundations already in place but, where possible, look to move our game forward,” Tennant said.

“I’ve had a very warm welcome since arriving, and there are plenty of incredibly-talented players here in Ireland to work with.”

The Girls in Green have an impressive record against Zimbabwe, having beaten them in all seven T20 meetings between the sides, and six of the eight ODIs they have contested.

T20I SQUAD: Gaby Lewis (c) (Phoenix), Ava Canning (Leinster), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf), Laura Delany (Leinster), Amy Hunter (Instonians), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Louise Little (Pembroke), Sophie MacMahon (Leinster), Jane Maguire (The Hills), Lara McBride (The Hills), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf), Leah Paul (Merrion), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke), Rebecca Stokell (Merrion).

ODI SQUAD: Lewis (c), Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell (Bready), Delany, Sarah Forbes (Pembroke), Hunter, Kelly, Little, Maguire, McBride, Murray, Paul, Prendergast.