Laura Delany: Zimbabwe series vital build-up to Ireland’s T20 World Cup qualifiers

While Delany has been managing a niggle in recent weeks, she hopes to be able to take a full part in the series.

If she plays in all eight games, it will bring up her caps haul to 199, with her 200 appearance then set to come in April.

“That would be an amazing moment for myself and my family if it does happen but it’s probably not something I’m focusing on.

“I’ve been struggling a little with a niggle so trying to get back out there on the pitch fit and to be able to contribute both on and off the pitch in terms of my skills but also with my leadership is definitely where my focus is at.”

The Ireland women had a busy 2023 which included earning a shock win over Australia in a warm-up game prior to the World Cup in South Africa where they produced creditable displays despite losing all their games to Pakistan, India, England and West Indies.

A Caribbean tour in late June and early July saw the Irish lose 2-0 to West Indies in ODIs before a 3-0 T20 series defeat after the tourists suffered an agonising final-ball two-wicket defeat in the opener.

The Aussies proved too strong for Ireland as they earned a dominant 2-0 ODI series win at Clontarf in late July, but the Irish women bounced back by beating the Netherlands 2-0 and 3-0 in respective ODI and T20 series in Amstelveen prior to the white-ball series win over Scotland in Spain.