Ed Joyce has announced that he will step down as head coach of the Ireland women's cricket team when his contract expires after April's ICC World Cup qualifier in Pakistan.
The 46-year-old former dual international, who represented both Ireland and England in his playing days, has been in permanent charge of the side since September 2019.
He will lead the squad at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Pakistan before leaving his post.
"It has been a privilege to lead Cricket Ireland's women’s performance programme and to work with this group of dedicated cricketers and support staff," he said.
"The last six years have been an incredible journey - not just for me personally, but for the players, coaches and, indeed, the entire performance programme.
"When I came on board we had just announced first-ever part-time contracts for women cricketers in Ireland.
"Those six part-time contracts have grown over subsequent years to now 23 players under some form of contract – a number of these being full-time.
"This process of professionalisation alone has been rewarding yet challenging. Throw the Covid pandemic into the mix, the constant need to juggle the availability of players who are still studying – all while meeting the demands of international cricket – the role has been all-encompassing.
"Just as in my professional playing career, I recognise the natural cycle of coaching."
He added: There comes a time when a system benefits from fresh perspectives and new voices, allowing players to explore and develop their skills in diverse ways.
"I'm grateful to Cricket Ireland for their trust in me and deeply thankful to my coaching and support team for sharing this journey.
"This is not, I hope, the end of my journey with Irish cricket. You
Read more on rte.ie
rte.ie