DUBLIN – The roll out of the current High Performance Strategy 2024-27 will continue to move forward this summer with modifications to the Talent Pathway system coming into effect.
A reconfiguration of the talent pathway will see the Under-16 and Under-19 age groups become the focus. National Team programmes and Provincial Age Group Tournaments at both age groups will underpin the opportunities for talented young cricketers in Ireland.
The Future Series tournaments will provide further opportunities to identify and monitor talented players graduating from youth cricket, this summer will see an increased number of games in both the male and female tournaments, with the two-day competition for the male players providing exposure to red ball cricket that remains a priority within the pathway system.
The reduction in the number of teams playing in both the Inter-Pro’s and Super Series is designed to increase the competitiveness of the tournaments, the summer schedule has been strategically designed with each domestic event leading into the respective ‘format’ international series, providing the players with continuity and enhancing preparation for national team assignments.
With a new cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship commencing with an ODI series against the West Indies in July and with qualification for the 2028 T20 World Cup secured for the men’s squad a new cycle begins for the men’s squad with games against the world champions, India, in June, the demands to build depth within our player pool become even greater and a huge amount of work is taking place behind the scenes to develop strategic plans that recognise both evolution and innovation of the international cricket landscape.
Graeme West, Director of High Performance at Cricket Ireland, said:
“The High Performance Committee will be a powerful oversight body on the Strategy and will enable us to draw on a wealth of knowledge and experience from experts within their respective fields.
“To that end, I’m delighted that Ed Joyce and Maxine Strain have joined the Committee. While they come to the Committee through quite different backgrounds, I believe their skill sets will be invaluable to moving the high performance system forward.
“Ed really needs no introduction to Irish fans, and what he brings to the role is an acute understanding of the game from both the playing and coaching sides of the fence. Ed played within some of the best cricket development environments available and was able to then successfully apply his knowledge and learning in his capacity as coach.
“While relatively new to the high-performance landscape within cricket, Maxine brings an independent and cross-sport perspective to the Committee. Her approach is grounded in current research and applied practice, with a particular interest in coach–athlete relationships, wellbeing, and the conditions that underpin sustainable performance. She joins the Committee with a focus on contributing to environments where athletes are supported not only to achieve, but to develop and remain in the sport over time.”
The High Performance Committee
The High Performance Committee provides the Board of Cricket Ireland with expert advice in relation to the execution of the high performance strategy (men’s and women’s) and to support the Director of High Performance in any matter relevant to the delivery of the high performance programme.
The current members of the High Performance Committee are:
- David Richardson (Chair), Guy Easterby, Ed Joyce, Philip Smith, Maxine Steel, and Mary Waldron
Bio – Ed Joyce
- Ed Joyce is a former international cricketer, regarded by many as Ireland’s best-ever batter. Joyce amassed 151 caps for Ireland Men scoring 5,552 runs at 40.82. He also had a long and successful career in English county cricket with Middlesex and Sussex.
- After retiring from playing in 2018, Joyce was appointed Head Coach of Ireland Women’s senior squad in 2019 and held that role until 2025. He was recently appointed as a batting consultant by Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.
Bio – Maxine Strain
- Maxine Strain is a sport performance practitioner, coach, and coach developer working across a range of sports in Ireland. Her work focuses on athlete wellbeing, performance psychology, and supporting coaches to create environments where athletes can both perform and thrive. Maxine has held governance and leadership roles within sport, including serving as a Board Member of Triathlon Ireland and currently as Chair of the Women’s Committee for Europe Triathlon.
- Alongside this, she works directly with athletes and coaches, bringing a practical understanding of the day-to-day realities of training environments and the wider systems that support them.
