Young batter Gaby Lewis has been named Ireland women's team skipper for the upcoming six-match multi-format series against South Africa.
Gaby, who has donned the Irish cap 88 times, is the first women's cricketer from her country to score an international hundred in any format of the game. She achieved the feat against Germany during the European T20 World Cup Qualifiers last year.
The 21-year-old has been appointed skipper in place of regular captain Laura Delany, who is still recovering from injury. Gaby will carry forward the rich legacy of her father, Alan Lewis, who led the Irish men's team 35 times.
On expected terms, she is chuffed to bits at the prospect of leading her country against one of the powerhouse teams in women's cricket.
"It's an absolute honour to be asked to captain Ireland for the first time. The opportunity to take on one of the world's leading sides is one I am relishing, and I know the squad is looking forward to the challenge," she said.
"One of the benefits of a competitive domestic Super Series is that - even with up to nine players missing we are still able to bring in a talented group of players as cover, showing that we are growing our player pool and developing our emerging talent in the right way," she added.
Ireland will lock horns with the Proteas in three T20I and as many One-day Internationals between June 03-17.
The series will be a part of the ICC Women ODI Championship (2022-2025) after the governing body added Ireland and Bangladesh as the 9th and 10th teams to the pre-existing eight-team championship.
Ireland squad for white-ball fixtures against South Africa women
Gaby Lewis (C), Alana Dalzell, Rachel Delaney, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Shauna Kavanagh, Arlene Kelly, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Kate McEvoy, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Celeste Raack, Mary Waldron