Mon Oct 14 16:15:08 UTC 2024: ## Ireland’s Under-19 Women’s Team Heads to South Africa for Key T20I Series
**DUBLIN –** Ireland’s Under-19 Women’s team is set to embark on a crucial five-match T20I series against their South African counterparts, a tour that serves as a crucial stepping stone towards the 2025 Under-19s Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.
The series will be played at the Groenkloof Oval in Pretoria, offering the young Irish women a chance to showcase their skills and compete against high-quality opposition. Head coach Glenn Querl highlighted the importance of the tour, stating it will allow the players to “potentially secure a spot on the plane” for the World Cup, while also building on the momentum gained from their recent success at the National Schools Games in England.
The tour holds particular significance for the players, as some have previous experience in Pretoria from the 2023 Under-19s T20 World Cup held there. This familiarity will enable the team to experiment with different combinations and refine their strategies for the upcoming tournament in Malaysia.
National Talent Pathway Manager, Albert van der Merwe, further emphasized the long-term benefits of the tour, stating it will contribute to the players’ development, ultimately aiming to produce future stars for the senior national squads.
“This tour is an exciting opportunity for the team, not only for preparation for the World Cup, but also for the players’ long-term development,” said van der Merwe. “The end goal is to produce players for the senior national squads, and tours like these help create experiences and test players for what hopefully becomes international careers.”
Fans can follow the tour and see scores and updates on the Cricket Ireland website. The coaching and support staff for the tour includes Glenn Querl (Head Coach), Albert van der Merwe (Assistant Coach), Kathryn Rough (Team Manager), Stuart Thompson (Strength & Conditioning), and Anri Coetzee (Physiotherapist).
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