Foundations in place for Ireland to grow - Tennant

Tennant has replaced Ed Joyce as head coach

New Ireland women's head coach Lloyd Tennant says the "foundations are in place" for the team to qualify for World Cups and improve their ranking during his time in charge.

Tennant, who has 30 years of experience in coaching, was appointed as Ed Joyce's successor in May.

And as he prepares to take on Zimbabwe in his first game at the helm in the opening T20 on 20 July, Tennant says he has "all good impressions" of what he has seen since starting his role on 1 June.

"It [World Cup qualification] has been spoken about, making sure that we're all together in our vision," the 57-year-old said, with Ireland's hopes of reaching this year's ICC Women's World Cup ended by Bangladesh in April.

"The team want to get through to World Cups obviously, so that's something we've already started to speak about. But also they want to move up the rankings and world rankings. It's an ambitious young group and an ambitious support staff behind them."

Of the squad he has inherited from Joyce, who was head coach for nearly six years, he added: "We've got a decent mix of older heads and experienced players and younger.

"We've got some good foundations and hopefully we can build on their skillset and keep moving forward. As we go forward, we'll get some extra pace and wicket-taking options, trying to develop a bit of depth in the spin bowling.

"We know that the batting group is strong but we could add a bit of power hitting just to get slightly bigger scores."

Maguire 'not a worry at all'

A former seam bowler with Leicestershire, Tennant was assistant coach at Manchester Originals and was women and girls' talent manager at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for two years.

"Across the board I've had different experiences," he added.

"[I've been] an assistant coach, a head coach and I've worked in the women's game for 10 years and have seen how that's developed, so I'm hoping we can still continue to move the women's game forward as it's growing across the world at the moment.

"I'm hoping to be an influence on some of the coaches as well. Being in coaching for a long time, I've made my own mistakes and have got a few things right so hopefully I can pass that experience on to the coaches."

Ireland face Zimbabwe in three T20s later this month before a three-match one-day international series between the two sides, which starts on 26 July.

Tennant handed a debut call-up to The Hill's right-arm off-spinner Lara McBride off the back of her Super Series performances for the Scorchers.

He added he has no concerns over the 19-year-old's club-mate Aimee Maguire, who was suspended from international cricket earlier this year for an illegal bowling action.

"Yeah, she's doing brilliantly," Tennant said of Maguire.

"She absolutely looks fine to me. She's not a worry at all. At the right time, at the right pace, we'll get her back moving into the team but she's doing brilliantly."

When asked if Maguire has gone back for retesting, he said: "Hopefully she'll be going shortly, then we'll get her some cricket and take that at the right pace."

Ireland squads for Zimbabwe series

T20 squad: Gaby Lewis (captain, Phoenix/Scorchers), Ava Canning (Leinster/Typhoons), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf/Scorchers), Laura Delany (Leinster/Typhoons), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Dragons), Arlene Kelly (Malahide/Dragons), Louise Little (Pembroke/Scorchers), Sophie MacMahon (Leinster/Scorchers), Jane Maguire (The Hills/Typhoons), Lara McBride (The Hills/Scorchers), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf/Dragons), Leah Paul (Merrion/Typhoons), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke/Dragons), Rebecca Stokell (Merrion/Typhoons)

ODI squad: Gaby Lewis (captain, Phoenix/Scorchers), Ava Canning (Leinster/Typhoons), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf/Scorchers), Alana Dalzell (Bready/Dragons), Laura Delany (Leinster/Typhoons), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke/Typhoons), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Dragons), Arlene Kelly (Malahide/Dragons), Louise Little (Pembroke/Scorchers), Jane Maguire (The Hills/Typhoons), Lara McBride (The Hills/Scorchers), Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf/Dragons), Leah Paul (Merrion/Typhoons), Orla Prendergast (Pembroke/Dragons)

Ireland v Zimbabwe fixtures

20 July: Ireland v Zimbabwe (1st T20; Pembroke)

22 July: Ireland v Zimbabwe (2nd T20; Pembroke)

23 July: Ireland v Zimbabwe (3rd T20; Pembroke)

26 July: Ireland v Zimbabwe (1st ODI; Stormont)

28 July: Ireland v Zimbabwe (2nd ODI; Stormont)