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World Cup winning coach MARK LANE is joining the Cricket Ireland coaching team for both the International tournament in Qatar and the upcoming ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.
World Cup winning coach MARK LANE is joining the Cricket Ireland coaching team for both the International tournament in Qatar and the upcoming ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

Lane, who won both the Women’s World Cup and ICC Women’s World Twenty20 during his five years’ tenure as the England Women’s Head Coach, is being retained as coach mentor for the women’s game.

“We believe it is important for the Ireland women’s team to be competitive in the ICC World T20 in March and feel a coach of Mark’s calibre and experience will support Trent and the players significantly,” said Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth.

“Mark led the England team to two World Cup wins and between 2008 and 2013 England won 46 out of 60 Women’s one-day internationals and 43 out of 54 Women’s T20I’s.

“Mark’s knowledge of the other women’s international teams and the brand of cricket they play is second to none, and we feel his passion and confidence will rub off on the Irish players.”

Lane, who was named both UK and High Performance Coach of the Year at the UK Coaching Awards in 2009, was looking forward to his new role saying: “I’m delighted to accept this new challenge and I’m looking forward to working with the group of players. I’m very hopeful that I can help to continue to grow the game and make it even more successful. These are exciting times for Irish cricket and it’s a great opportunity to be part of it.”

Women’s Head Coach Trent Johnston welcomed Lane into the Cricket Ireland fold saying: “I’m delighted to have Mark as part of the coaching set-up in Qatar and then at the Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh. His experience and knowledge of the ladies game will be invaluable to me and the squad.”

Johnston, Lane and the Ireland squad flew to Qatar yesterday where they are participating in an International Tri-Series against Full Members South Africa and Pakistan, which begins tomorrow (FRI).

Ireland play ODI’s against South Africa on January 11 and 14, and Pakistan on January 10 and 13 – the final is scheduled for Friday January 17. All four matches will be under flood-lights.

The teams then switch to T20 mode, with Ireland facing Pakistan on the 19th of January before facing both sides in a double-header on the 20th, before the tour concludes with the final on Friday 24th.

IRELAND SQUAD
Isobel Joyce (captain) (Merrion), Laura Delany (Leinster), Emma Flanagan (YMCA), Jennifer Gray (YMCA), Cecelia Joyce (Merrion), Amy Kenealy (Leinster), Louise McCarthy (Pembroke), Kate McKenna (Merrion), Lucy O’Reilly (YMCA), Rebecca Rolfe (Leinster), Melissa Scott-Hayward (Merrion), Clare Shillington (Malahide), Elena Tice (Merrion), Mary Waldron (Malahide).

FIXTURES

ODI SERIES
Fri 10 January Pakistan v Ireland 13.00 Day/Night
Sat 11 January South Africa v Ireland 13.00 Day/Night
Mon 13 January Pakistan v Ireland 13.00 Day Night
Tue 14 January Ireland v South Africa 13.00 Day/Night

Fri 17 January FINAL 13.00 Day/Night

T20I SERIES

Sun 19 January Pakistan v Ireland 17.00 Day/Night
Mon 20 January South Africa v Ireland 13.00
Pakistan v Ireland 17.00
Wed 22 January South Africa v Ireland 13.00

Fri 24 January FINAL 17.00-19.45 (D/N)

Cricket Ireland
Yes
Connaught