Cricket Ireland has confirmed a record number of full-time contracts have been handed out to women amongst the 48 announced today.
Twelve female players have been included, as well as another 11 on various other types of contracts. Added to the 36 men who were given full-time contracts were another were another four players on retainer agreements.
Six women have been awarded an educational contract, which gives them an income during the college part of the year and has them playing cricket full-time during the summer months.
"Women's cricket continues to progress, and I am delighted that we have been able to increase the number of full-time contracts offered to a record 12 this year," said Ciara O'Brien, Women’s National Selector.
"We have a young but exceptionally talented cohort of players – although their average age is just over 21, it is a group of players who have built up a great deal of experience in the last few years.
"This year we are also welcoming the return of Una Raymond-Hoey to the Irish set-up on a retainer basis. Una, who has 15 caps for Ireland, has spent the last five years in Australia – playing cricket and rising through the ranks of representing Victoria, and being part of the Melbourne Stars squad in the Women’s Big Bash."
Andrew White, Men's National Selector, added: "As our talent pool grows, so too does the challenge of selecting central contracts.
"With an increasing volume of cricket to play both home and away, our need to nurture and develop the talent to compete at the highest level becomes more acute and selecting the right mix of players to receive central contracts is one of the most consequential decisions we can make as an organisation.
"Our players are our assets, and we are constantly monitoring, reviewing and discussing the progress and performances of our players to ensure we have the best talent available to the head coach and captain."
Ireland women
Full-time contracts: Alana Dalzell (Bready/Dragons), Laura Delany (Leinster/Typhoons), Arlene Kelly (Malahide/Dragons), Gaby Lewis (Phoenix/Scorchers), Louise Little (Pembroke/Dragons), Sophie MacMahon (Leinster/Scorchers), Jane Maguire (The Hills/Scorchers), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf/Dragons), Leah Paul (Merrion/Scorchers), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke/Dragons). Freya Sargent (Clontarf/Typhoons), Rebecca Stokell (Merrion/Typhoons)
Education contracts:Ava Canning (Leinster/Typhoons), Georgina Dempsey (Phoenix/Typhoons), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke/Typhoons), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Dragons), Joanna Loughran (Leinster/Typhoons), Aimee Maguire (The Hills/Scorchers)
Casual contracts: Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf/Scorchers), Abbi Harrison (Waringstown/Dragons), Kia McCartney (Coleraine/Dragons), Alice Tector (Phoenix/Scorchers)
Retainer contract: Una Raymond-Hoey (Ringwood)
Ireland men
Full-time contracts: Mark Adair (Lisburn/Northern Knights), Ross Adair (CIYMS/Northern Knights), Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning), Curtis Campher (Clontarf/Munster Reds), Gareth Delany (Leinster/Munster Reds), George Dockrell (Phoenix/Leinster Lightning), Stephen Doheny (Merrion/North West Warriors), Matthew Foster (CSNI/Northern Knights), Fionn Hand (Clontarf/Leinster Lightning), Graham Hume (Waringstown/North West Warriors), Josh Little (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning), Andy McBrine (Donemana/North West Warriors), Barry McCarthy (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning), James McCollum (Waringstown/Northern Knights), PJ Moor (Clontarf/Munster Reds), Neil Rock (Instonians/Northern Knights), Paul Stirling (N/A/Northern Knights), Harry Tector (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning), Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning), Ben White (Phoenix/Munster Reds), Craig Young (North Down/North West Warriors).
Retainer contracts: Gavin Hoey (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning), Matthew Humphreys (Lisburn/Northern Knights), Tom Mayes (Waringstown/Northern Knights), Liam McCarthy (Railway Union/Munster Reds).
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