Ireland out to 'improve ranking' against Zimbabwe

Gaby Lewis will lead Ireland in their multi-format series with Zimbabwe

Ireland captain Gaby Lewis says improving their world ranking is top of the agenda as her side prepares for a multi-format home series against Zimbabwe.

Two 14-player squads will play three Twenty20 Internationals at Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin and that is followed by two one-day internationals at Stormont.

Ireland then face Pakistan in another summer series next month before the T20 World Cup qualifying tournament at the end of August.

"We want to improve our ranking, it's something we have discussed," Lewis said.

"We want to get to a point where we don't have to qualify for World Cups because you've already got that ranking and you've put those performances in in previous World Cups that allow you to not have to qualify.

"Qualifying tournaments are always hard, no matter how many teams get through and T20 games can go in ebbs and flows. It's just getting to that point and I do think we have the capability to push on and we have the support around us to allow us to do that."

Ireland's hopes of qualifying for this year's ICC Women's World Cup in India were dashed in the qualifying tournament in Pakistan in April.

But focus is now firmly on making next year's T20 World Cup, which will be staged in England and Wales, with a qualifying tournament taking place in the Netherlands at the end of August.

"I think these upcoming games [against Zimbabwe] will be key preparation, especially with the switch in format from April's games to T20.

"I'm not looking too far ahead to the World Cup, we still have two qualifiers to get through.

"You can't just go into a tournament and expect to win, that's just not going to happen. So, we just have to focus on us and keep pushing forward. No matter who we play against, we just want to give it our all and play our best brand of cricket."

The upcoming series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan will provide good preparation ahead of the trip to the Netherlands – especially for new Head Coach Lloyd Tennant, who replaced Ed Joyce back in June.

"It's been good having Lloyd come in. The first few weeks we have been observing and getting used to the new system. It's been hard for him to come in and get an understanding of things, but he's been great, he's worked hard with the bowlers - but it will take time.

"We had Ed for six years and some of the girls haven't had another coach in the Irish team, so it's been a big change, but it's one that's really exciting and it's a clean slate, a new chapter for us."

The squad have a very good record against Zimbabwe, having won all seven encounters between the two sides. But Lewis was keen to stress that standards are improving in women's cricket across the board.

"There's a few changes to their squad. They don't have their captain Mary-Anne Musonda which is a big loss for them. But they have lots of youngsters coming through and they are an up and coming team.

"We have a great record against them, but it will be a good test. Obviously we have home conditions and hopefully we can put the performances in."