Exclusive: Ed Joyce Feels Beating Sri Lanka Was 'Possibly A Better Performance' Than Beating England for Ireland Women

Ed Joyce, Ireland women’s cricket team’s head coach, believes that their triumphs against Sri Lanka and England have taken their confidence to the next level.

Joyce, the former Irish batsman who has been guiding the national women’s team for more than five years, emphasises the need for patience with their players as they are still developing and have a long journey ahead.

BEATING SRI LANKA

Ireland were undoubtedly the underdogs when they faced England and Sri Lanka before their tour of Bangladesh. However, they delivered impressive performances, winning the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-1 and later defeating England in both ODIs and T20Is.

Recently, Ireland women completed a historic 3-0 sweep in the T20I series in Bangladesh. Their victories – by 12 runs, 47 runs, and four wickets – marked a remarkable turnaround after their 0-3 defeat in the preceding ODI series.

Speaking to SportsBoom.com, Joyce shared that he considers the win against Sri Lanka more significant than the one against England, though both victories were confidence boosters.

“Beating Sri Lanka was possibly a better performance (than beating England) because it was in ODIs, and some of the performances there were really good. Sri Lanka were coming off an Asia Cup win and had a full-strength team against us,” said Joyce.

“We’re really proud of that. England also fielded a strong team, although a few of their top stars were unavailable after the T20I World Cup. We were very chuffed to get those wins, and these successes certainly help grow confidence,” he added.

Joyce also stressed the importance of being realistic with expectations for Ireland’s women’s team, which is young and still learning the game.

“It’s a very young team, so understanding the game and learning from wins and losses is part of the coaching process. Coaching women is slightly different from coaching men, but not as much as people might think. Senior players and the captain play crucial roles in leading the group. Our team, with an average age in the early 20s, is traveling to places vastly different from what they’re used to, and it’s tough for such a young group,” Joyce explained.

“The players lack the experience that comes from regular cricket exposure during their teenage years. As a coach, I’m patient and forgiving, ensuring they give 100% effort. We understand the long road ahead but also set expectations to help them learn as quickly as possible,” he added.
 

WHY ORLA PRENDERGAST BOWLED ONLY FOUR OVERS PER MATCH IN BANGLADESH ODIS

Ireland women’s vice-captain Orla Prendergast is a rising star. At just 22 years old, she has already earned 87 caps since her debut in 2019, making her the 12th-most capped player in Ireland women’s cricket.

Prendergast has been showcasing her talent in various franchise-based T20 tournaments. She announced her arrival in the first ODI against Sri Lanka with an outstanding all-round performance, scoring 122 off 107 balls and taking 3 for 25 to secure a three-wicket victory for Ireland in Dublin.

In Bangladesh, she played a pivotal role in the T20Is, taking 10 wickets, including two three-wicket hauls and a career-best 4 for 22 in the final game.

“Orla is a fantastic cricketer and a great talent. She hasn’t played a lot of cricket up to the age of 17-18 because she was also a very good footballer. She’s been recognized in the WBBL and has played some cricket in England as well. I hope she gets more opportunities. She’s still learning and is a young woman. As vice-captain alongside Gaby, they’re both working to move the team forward,” said Joyce.

“I’m happy with how she approached her cricket. She’s curbed her natural aggression, which was necessary on the pitches in Mirpur. She’s learning to develop shots like the sweep and to play behind the square more effectively. I think she bowled really well in the ODIs,” he added.

Joyce also explained the limitations on Prendergast’s bowling workload during the Bangladesh ODIs.

“We had restrictions on how many overs she could bowl in ODIs because she had a slight injury issue in one of her legs. So, she was limited to bowling four to six overs per match. She’s a fantastic fielder and a strong leader as well,” Joyce concluded.

Ireland women’s cricket team, under the guidance of Ed Joyce, is making remarkable strides on the international stage. Victories against Sri Lanka and England, followed by a T20I series sweep in Bangladesh, showcase their growing potential.

With young talents like Orla Prendergast stepping up, the team is learning and evolving. However, as Joyce highlights, patience and realistic expectations remain key as Ireland continues its journey toward becoming a more competitive cricketing nation.