Kelly and Tector return for England ODI series

Arlene Kelly and Alice Tector have both recovered from injury to be named in Ireland's squad for their one-day international series against England.

The pair missed last month's 3-0 ODI defeat by West Indies but have been named in head coach Lloyd Tennant's 14-player squad for the three-game series which starts in Leicester on 1 September.

Gaby Lewis again captains the squad with Orla Prendergast, fresh from representing Welsh Fire in The Hundred, serving as her deputy.

Aimee Maguire, Sarah Forbes and Ava Canning will all miss out through injury.

Ireland will play a warm-up fixture against an ECB Development XI on 29 August, while three of their squad will feature in an Emerging Ireland side that will play in the ECB Super 4s preceding the series from August 24-28.

Tector will captain what is an under-19 side, while Christina Coulter Reilly and Lara McBride will also feature for that team before joining the senior group for three matches which form part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 cycle.

Ireland selector Lauren Rowles believes the regular exposure offered to the world's top sides afforded by the competition will be of benefit to Ireland.

"To have genuine competition for places within a senior squad is important as it drives standards and raises the desire of players to achieve more with every opportunity they get," she said.

"That's why the ICC Women's Championship is so important. It provides a regular programme of fixtures against the world's best sides, which in turn benefits the development and competitiveness of our players."

Squad: ⁠Gaby Lewis (captain), Christina Coulter Reilly, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector.

First ODI: Leicester, 1 September, 13:00 BST

Second ODI: Derby, 3 September, 13:00 BST

Third ODI: Worcester, 6 September, 10:30 BST