Ireland name 20-person squad for South Africa series

A 14-player Ireland squad has been named for next month's six-match multi-format series against South Africa in Dublin.

Owing to exams head coach Ed Joyce is without eight of his 20 performance squad players for theT20I and ODI games in Sandymount.

It means that four players are in line for their international debuts, Alana Dalzell, Sarah Forbes, Kate McEvoy and New Zealand-born Arlene Kelly. Kelly, an Irish passport holder, recently moved to Ireland having previously played club cricket for Auckland Harriers and Kent. During her time here she will play with Malahide.

Regular captain Laura Delany is injured so Gaby Lewis is in line to take the armband for the upcoming internationals.

"While it's unfortunate that we are without our skipper Laura Delany, it’s an absolute honour to be asked to captain Ireland for the first time," the 88-times capped 21-year-old said.

"The opportunity to take on one of the world’s leading sides is one I am relishing, and I know the squad is looking forward to the challenge.

"One of the benefits of a competitive domestic Super Series is that – even with up to nine players missing - we are still able to bring in a talented group of players as cover, showing that we are growing our player pool and developing our emerging talent in the right way."

Ireland squad series against South Africa: Gaby Lewis (captain), Alana Dalzell, Rachel Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Shauna Kavanagh, Arlene Kelly, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Kate McEvoy, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Celeste Raack, Mary Waldron.