Women's T20 WC: Injury rules out Laura Delany, Ireland call up Alice Tector
Synopsis
Ireland head into the ICC Women's T20 World Cup without one of their most experienced players. Laura Delany's injury-enforced exit hands 18-year-old Alice Tector — just five caps to her name and a return from her own injury lay-off — the biggest opportunity of her career, as Ireland face a brutal Group 2 featuring England and defending champions New Zealand.
Key Takeaways
Laura Delany has been ruled out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup due to injury.
Alice Tector , aged 18 with five international appearances , has been named as Delany's replacement for both the World Cup and the tri-series.
Ireland will host a preparatory tri-series at Clontarf against West Indies and Pakistan before the tournament.
Captain Gaby Lewis will miss the tri-series due to a leg injury; vice-captain Orla Prendergast will lead in her absence.
Ireland are ranked ninth and placed in Group 2 alongside hosts England , defending champions New Zealand , Sri Lanka , West Indies , and Scotland .
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup runs from 12 June to 5 July .
Ireland have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup as seasoned all-rounder Laura Delany has been ruled out of the tournament through injury. Eighteen-year-old Alice Tector has been drafted into the squad as her replacement for both the World Cup and the preceding tri-series against West Indies and Pakistan, Cricket Ireland confirmed on 27 May.
Delany's Absence Leaves a Void
Delany is widely regarded as one of Ireland's most experienced and combative cricketers, and her withdrawal represents a considerable loss of leadership and all-round capability for the squad. Cricket Ireland's Director of High Performance, Graeme West, acknowledged the blow while expressing confidence in her replacement.
'We are all devastated for Laura — she's one of the toughest competitors that has ever played for Ireland Women and we wish her well with her recovery. Alice herself has had to deal with injuries over the last 12 months, but has shown a great temperament since returning to play in 2026,' West said.
Who Is Alice Tector
Tector, who made her international debut in 2024, comes from a well-established cricketing family — she is the younger sister of Ireland internationals Harry Tector and Tim Tector. Despite carrying only five international appearances to her name, she now faces the biggest assignment of her fledgling career. Notably, her own path to this moment has not been straightforward, having navigated injury setbacks over the past year before returning to form in 2026.
Tri-Series in Clontarf Before World Cup
Ireland will host a preparatory tri-series at Clontarf, featuring West Indies and Pakistan, before departing for the World Cup. Captain Gaby Lewis will miss the tri-series as she continues recovering from a leg injury, with vice-captain Orla Prendergast set to lead the side in her absence. Prendergast currently sits seventh in the ICC women's T20I all-rounder rankings, underlining Ireland's depth despite the injury concerns at the top.
Ireland's World Cup Group and Challenge Ahead
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup runs from 12 June to 5 July. Ireland, ranked ninth in the ICC women's T20I standings, have been placed in a demanding Group 2 alongside hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Scotland. Group 1 features Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, leaving Ireland with a steep path to the knockout rounds.
What's Next for Ireland
With two injury concerns — Delany ruled out entirely and Lewis sidelined for the tri-series — Ireland's management will be counting on young players like Tector to step up under pressure. The Clontarf tri-series will serve as a critical barometer of the squad's readiness before the tournament proper gets underway in June.
Point of View
Which is where cohesion is built, will be led by a stand-in. Tector's selection is an opportunity, but five caps is a thin foundation for a World Cup campaign. The broader question is whether Cricket Ireland's high-performance pipeline can convert family pedigree and raw talent into tournament-ready cricketers fast enough — because Group 2, with England and New Zealand, offers no margin for a learning curve.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Laura Delany been ruled out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup?
Laura Delany has been ruled out due to injury, though the specific nature of the injury has not been publicly disclosed. Cricket Ireland confirmed her withdrawal on 27 May, describing it as a significant blow given her experience and leadership role.
Who is Alice Tector and why has she been selected?
Alice Tector is an 18-year-old Irish cricketer who made her international debut in 2024 and has five caps to her name. She has been selected as Laura Delany's direct replacement for both the ICC Women's T20 World Cup and the preceding tri-series, having returned to form in 2026 after her own injury lay-off.
When and where is the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2025?
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup runs from 12 June to 5 July. Ireland will play their preparatory tri-series at Clontarf against West Indies and Pakistan before travelling for the tournament.
Which group are Ireland in at the Women's T20 World Cup?
Ireland have been placed in Group 2 alongside hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Scotland. The top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals, making it a highly competitive pool for the ninth-ranked Irish side.
Who will captain Ireland during the tri-series?
Vice-captain Orla Prendergast will captain Ireland during the Clontarf tri-series, as captain Gaby Lewis continues her recovery from a leg injury. Lewis is expected to return for the World Cup itself.
