Ed Joyce has announced that he will step down from his role as the head coach of Ireland Women’s cricket team following their participation in the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan in April. Joyce, who has been part of the team for almost six years, has opted not to renew his contract, irrespective of whether the team qualifies for the Women’s 50-over World Cup for the first time since 2005.
His move brings an end to a big chapter in the growth of women’s cricket in Ireland.
Joyce’s Coaching Journey
Ed Joyce, who played a storied career for both Ireland and England, was made permanent head coach of Ireland Women’s cricket team in September 2019. His hiring came after a three-month term as interim head coach following the departure of Aaron Hamilton. Throughout his tenure, Joyce has presided over significant progress and a number of standout achievements for the team.
Under his tenure, the Irish women’s team recorded some record-breaking wins, such as winning T20I series against Pakistan and Bangladesh and a nostalgic 2-1 series victory against Sri Lanka in ODIs last summer. This achievement was followed by a record win over England in an ODI, their first victory since 2001, and a first-ever T20I series victory, with the series being drawn 1-1. These achievements are a testament to the good work Joyce did with the team while he was in command.
Challenges Faced Under Joyce’s Leadership
Even so, Joyce’s head coaching tenure was not smooth sailing. The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic was seriously disruptive to the team, bringing a 20-month gap in competitive matches and depriving them of a chance to qualify for the 2022 Women’s 50-over World Cup. Joyce’s attempts to manage the disruptions the pandemic brought and the disruption it caused to international cricket were immensely praiseworthy.
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Though Ireland did make it to the 2023 T20 World Cup, they narrowly failed to make it to last year’s edition following a defeat to Scotland during the qualifiers. Nevertheless, Joyce’s leadership during these challenging times was important in keeping the team’s morale up and their minds on their long-term objectives.
The Professionalization of Ireland Women’s Cricket
One of the standout achievements of Joyce during his time in office was having the Ireland Women’s cricket program professionalized. When Joyce initially came on board, the team had just implemented part-time contracts for Irish women cricketers. Through the years, Joyce has been at the forefront of taking this to 23 players under some type of contract, several of whom are now full-time contracted.
Joyce spoke about the professionalization process, recognizing the challenges and benefits that it presented. The transition towards full-time contracts for players has been an essential step in creating the women’s game in Ireland, enabling the players to prioritize their cricketing careers while still balancing studies and other obligations. In spite of these obstacles, Joyce’s direction enabled Ireland to move closer to a more professional structure, becoming more competitive internationally.
Joyce’s Reflection on His Time as Coach
Speaking on his departure, Joyce has said he was proud to be the team leader and to watch the women’s performance program develop. He said the last six years have been an amazing experience not only for him, but for the players, coaches, and the entire performance program.
“I have been privileged to be at the helm of Cricket Ireland’s women’s performance program, and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together. When I arrived, the team had just made its first-ever part-time contracts for women cricketers, and to see the development from six part-time contracts to 23 players, a lot of them on full-time contracts, has been very rewarding,” Joyce stated.
He also recognized the challenges of coaching during the pandemic and the difficulty of juggling players’ availability, who were still in school, with the needs of international cricket. Joyce mentioned that similar to his playing career, coaching also has a natural cycle. He feels that it is now time for the team to avail themselves of new voices and opinions to further develop.
Cricket Ireland’s Tribute to Joyce
Graeme West, Cricket Ireland’s head of high performance, conveyed the board’s sorrow at Joyce relinquishing his post. Though they tried to persuade Joyce to continue as head coach, West appreciated that Joyce had a sense of timing and it was the ideal time to transfer the reins to another person.
“Ed’s influence on the senior women’s program will be felt for years to come.”. He has been at the forefront of revolutionizing the senior women’s setup, making the players feel at home at the pinnacle of the sport,” West explained. “We attempted to persuade Ed to remain, but he believed it was time for new leadership. He will captain the team for the final time during the World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan and depart with a solid foundation for the incoming head coach to build from.”
West also thanked Joyce for his efforts in the past six years and appreciated the encouragement Joyce had from his family—Fran, Georgiou, and Sebastian. His family’s support helped Joyce stay committed to the role despite the difficulties of the pandemic and the demands of global cricket.
The Future of Ireland Women’s Cricket
As Joyce is set to leave office after the World Cup Qualifier, Cricket Ireland will start the process of searching for his replacement. The aim will be to identify a new head coach who can capitalize on the good foundation Joyce has created and continue the development of Ireland Women’s cricket. Joyce’s legacy will be in the form of the professionalized structure, the success on the pitch, and the worthwhile experience he imparted to his players and coaching staff.
Finally, Ed Joyce stepping down as head coach ends a critical chapter in the building of Ireland Women’s cricket. His vision, his leadership, and the progress of the past year will be an enduring influence on the team as they press towards even bigger successes in women’s international cricket.
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