Ireland Women head to England in September 2026 for a three-match one-day series that carries real weight, forming part of the 2025 to 2029 ICC Women’s Championship. The matches run across the East Midlands and West Midlands, giving Ireland a stern early test in the new cycle.
The series is scheduled for September 1, 3 and 6, hosted at Leicester, Derby and Worcester. England have named a strikingly young squad under stand-in captain Charlie Dean, while Ireland arrive under Gaby Lewis looking to build on their standing in the Championship race.
Ireland Women Tour of England 2026 Schedule
The three ODIs are spread over six days, moving between three county grounds in central England.
| Match | Date | Time (BST / IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | September 1, 2026 | 1:00 PM / 5:30 PM | Uptonsteel Grace Road, Leicester |
| 2nd ODI | September 3, 2026 | 1:00 PM / 5:30 PM | The OurCoop County Ground, Derby |
| 3rd ODI | September 6, 2026 | 10:30 AM / 3:00 PM | New Road, Worcester |
(Source: ECB, Cricket Ireland)
Ireland Women Tour of England 2026 Venues
The series uses three well-established English county grounds, each a regular host of domestic and international women’s cricket.
| Venue | City | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Uptonsteel Grace Road | Leicester | Home of Leicestershire and a regular county fixture venue |
| The OurCoop County Ground | Derby | Home of Derbyshire, a compact ground in the East Midlands |
| New Road | Worcester | Scenic home of Worcestershire beside the River Severn |
(Source: ECB)
Uptonsteel Grace Road, Leicester
Grace Road opens the series in Leicester as the home of Leicestershire, a ground long known for its true, batting-friendly surfaces. It’s a familiar county fixture venue, giving both sides a well-prepared pitch to start the tour on, and the compact stands tend to create a decent atmosphere for women’s internationals.
The OurCoop County Ground, Derby
The action then moves to Derby for the second ODI. Home of Derbyshire, this is a compact ground in the East Midlands where spectators sit close to the boundary and feel every run and wicket more intensely than at a larger Test venue. England Women have used it regularly for home fixtures in recent seasons.
New Road, Worcester
The series closes at New Road in Worcester, the scenic home of Worcestershire beside the River Severn, and one of the most photographed cricket grounds in England. It has staged international women’s matches before and offers a surface that can turn as the match progresses, which could make the series decider more interesting for the spinners on both sides.
Ireland Women Tour of England 2026 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | Ireland Women tour of England 2026 |
| Format | 3 ODIs (50 overs) |
| Competition | 2025 to 2029 ICC Women’s Championship |
| Dates | September 1 to 6, 2026 |
| Venues | Leicester, Derby and Worcester |
| England Captain | Charlie Dean (stand-in) |
| Ireland Captain | Gaby Lewis |
| Total Matches | 3 |
(Source: ECB, Cricket Ireland)
England Women Squad for the Ireland Series
England named a 15-player squad on 17 August 2026, with Charlie Dean leading the side in Sciver-Brunt’s absence. Grace Potts and Kira Chathli are the only two uncapped players, though Charis Pavely is also pushing for her first ODI cap having played two IT20s.
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)
Ireland Women Squad for the England Tour
Ireland named a 14-player squad with Gaby Lewis continuing as captain. Georgina Dempsey, Lara McBride and Alice Tector return to the side, while Alana Dalzell, Sarah Forbes and Aimee Maguire are all absent through injury.
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)
For a full role-by-role breakdown of both touring parties, the squads guide covers every player in detail.
Ireland Women’s Tour of England 2026 Begins at Leicester on 1 September
Three ODIs across three Midlands counties, all counting toward the ICC Women’s Championship, and England missing five senior players including their captain. That combination makes this series more open than the rankings suggest, and Ireland will fancy their chances of picking up points that matter for 2029 World Cup qualification.
The first ball lands at Grace Road in Leicester on 1 September, and the series wraps up at New Road in Worcester five days later. If you want to plan ahead beyond this tour, Cricket Insider UK’s England cricket fixtures guide covers the full 2027 schedule for both the men’s and women’s sides.
