Both squads are now confirmed for the Ireland Women’s tour of England in September 2026, and the selection news on both sides is worth paying attention to. England go in without their first-choice captain and five senior regulars, handing Charlie Dean her third ODI captaincy stint of the summer.
Ireland arrive with three returning players after injury setbacks and the sting of a West Indies whitewash fresh in their minds, knowing that every point in this ICC Women’s Championship series moves them closer to 2029 World Cup qualification.
Cricket Insider UK has the full squad lists, key selection details and the schedule you need ahead of the opening match in Leicester on 1 September.
Ireland Women Tour of England 2026 Squads at a Glance
Both boards have now confirmed their touring parties, and the snapshot below shows where each side stands heading into the series.
| Detail | England Women | Ireland Women |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Charlie Dean | Gaby Lewis |
| Squad Size | 15 | 14 |
| Uncapped Players | 2 (Grace Potts, Kira Chathli) | 0 |
| Notable Absences | Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Amy Jones | Alana Dalzell, Sarah Forbes, Aimee Maguire (all injured) |
(Source: ECB, Cricket Ireland)
England Women Squad for the Ireland ODI Series 2026
England named a 15-player squad led by Charlie Dean, who first took the captaincy role this season when Nat Sciver-Brunt was injured ahead of the New Zealand ODI series. Dean now brings that leadership stint to a close with three more matches against Ireland.
England Women Squad: Charlie Dean (captain), Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Kira Chathli, Dani Gibson, Jodi Grewcock, Freya Kemp, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Charis Pavely, Mady Villiers, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Lauren Filer, Grace Potts, Issy Wong
(Source: ECB)
England Women’s Probable Playing XI
England haven’t confirmed a starting eleven, but the squad shape points toward a lineup built around their established middle order and pace attack, with Charlie Dean’s spin and captaincy anchoring the group.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Maia Bouchier | Opening batter |
| Sophia Dunkley | Top-order batter |
| Alice Capsey | Batting all-rounder, wicketkeeper |
| Charlie Dean (captain) | Bowling all-rounder |
| Freya Kemp | All-rounder |
| Jodi Grewcock | Batting all-rounder |
| Dani Gibson | Bowling all-rounder |
| Mady Villiers | Bowling all-rounder |
| Lauren Filer | Fast bowler |
| Issy Wong | Fast bowler |
| Tilly Corteen-Coleman | Bowler |
(Source: Cricket Insider UK projection, based on squad selection)
Alice Capsey takes the wicketkeeping gloves in Amy Jones’ absence, while Charis Pavely, who has two IT20 caps, is pushing for her first ODI appearance. Ryana MacDonald-Gay also returns to an England squad after missing time with a lower back injury.
Key England Absences and What They Mean
Five senior players are missing from the squad. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are both managing fitness and recovery, Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell have been rested, and Amy Jones has been left out as England widen their player pool. Head coach Charlotte Edwards described the series as “a chance for players to display their 50-over skills and bank some valuable experience for the future.”
Ireland Women Squad for the England Tour 2026
Georgina Dempsey, Lara McBride and Alice Tector have been called up to Ireland’s 14-member squad, with Gaby Lewis continuing as captain. Alana Dalzell, Sarah Forbes and Aimee Maguire, all of whom played in the home series against West Indies in July, are absent through injury. Arlene Kelly returns after injury ruled her out of that West Indies assignment.
Ireland Women Squad: Gaby Lewis (captain), Orla Prendergast, Christina Coulter Reilly, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector
(Source: Cricket Ireland)
Ireland Women’s Probable Playing XI
Ireland haven’t named a starting eleven ahead of the tour opener, but the squad’s experienced core gives a clear steer on how they’re likely to line up at Leicester.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Gaby Lewis (captain) | Opening batter |
| Orla Prendergast | Opening batter, bowling all-rounder |
| Amy Hunter | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Alice Tector | Batting all-rounder |
| Georgina Dempsey | All-rounder |
| Leah Paul | Batter |
| Christina Coulter Reilly | Batter |
| Arlene Kelly | Pace bowler |
| Lara McBride | Off-spinner |
| Cara Murray | Pace bowler |
| Louise Little | Pace bowler |
(Source: Cricket Insider UK projection, based on squad selection)
Key Players to Watch in the England vs Ireland Women ODI Series
A handful of individuals on both sides could shape how the three matches go, whether they’re returning from injury, chasing a debut or carrying their side’s batting hopes.
- Gaby Lewis (Ireland) arrives in strong form after scoring 284 runs across three innings in the 2026 Evoke Super 50 Cup at an average of 94.67, including a knock of 198. She’s Ireland’s most consistent performer and the batter England will plan around.
- Orla Prendergast (Ireland) is Ireland’s most complete cricketer at the moment, capable of hurting opponents with bat and ball, and she’ll be the player most likely to win matches on her own.
- Charlie Dean (England) carries the dual weight of captaincy and genuine match-winning capability. Her off-spin in the middle overs will be England’s key bowling weapon on county ground surfaces that often grip.
- Kira Chathli (England) could make her ODI debut in this series and will be one to watch if she gets the gloves in place of the more experienced Capsey.
- Alice Tector (Ireland) returns to the squad after injury and will want to make her recall count in a series where every ICC Women’s Championship point counts toward the 2029 World Cup cycle.
(Source: ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Ireland)
Ireland Women Tour of England 2026 Schedule
The three ODIs run across the first week of September, with a warm-up match against an ECB Development XI scheduled for 29 August in Leicester before the series proper begins.
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up vs ECB Development XI | 29 August 2026 | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | 10:30 BST |
| 1st ODI | 1 September 2026 | Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester | 13:00 BST |
| 2nd ODI | 3 September 2026 | The OurCoop County Ground, Derby | 13:00 BST |
| 3rd ODI | 6 September 2026 | New Road, Worcester | 10:30 BST |
(Source: Cricket Ireland, ECB)
All three venues sit in the Midlands, which keeps travel manageable across a compact schedule and should produce decent batting surfaces in the early September conditions.
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Gaby Lewis Leads Ireland Into a Women’s Championship Series That Matters for 2029
Both squads are confirmed and the stakes are clear. England use this series to widen their player pool, while Ireland need the points to stay on track for World Cup qualification. Ireland are aiming to qualify for the 2029 Women’s ODI World Cup, and this series forms part of that qualification structure.
With Lewis in strong form, Prendergast as a genuine match-winner, and England’s regular captain absent, the tourists won’t feel short of a chance. The series begins in Leicester on 1 September, and three Midlands grounds will host what could be a closer contest than the rankings suggest.
