IRE-W vs ENG-W 2024: Sargent and Tector emerge from family shadows onto the world stage

BELFAST – With the recent success of the Ireland Women’s squad, attention has not only turned to the established stars but also to the new generation coming through – and that new generation features some very familiar surnames for Irish cricket fans.

With the average age of the Irish squad less than 22 years, this talented squad has a bright future ahead if current potential continues to blossom. Two young players at the forefront of this ‘new generation’ are Freya Sargent and Alice Tector.

Sargent, 18, made her international debut in August 2023 and has played seven T20Is and seven ODIs to date. The right-arm off-break bowler from Clontarf Cricket Club has taken 16 wickets across formats, with a best of 3-29 against Zimbabwe in January this year.

Also read: Ireland Women vs England Women ODI Series 2024: Schedule, Squad, Live Streaming, Broadcasters & All you need to know

Speaking at training ahead of the England series, Sargent said: “It’s been a whirlwind last 18 months - just before I started my exams, I was offered a full-time contract which allowed me to choose between cricket or college which was an incredible position to be in.

“I made my youth international debut in 2019 in the Netherlands at the age of 13 – to make my senior debut four years later in the same country felt like a full circle moment. I think I still have the picture of Clare Shillington handing me the cap all those years ago and to be paired with the most recent one of Rebecca Stokell handing me my cap. It really shows how much I’ve changed since then!

“It has certainly taken me a while to get comfortable playing at international level – but the Under-19s was a great starting point to lead into international cricket. That experience shows what tournament cricket could be like and what touring could be like outside of the senior set up.”

About her family connections to Irish cricket, she said: “Cricket has been an absolute massive part of my family for so many years. My grandmother, Phillis Spence, started the women’s team in Clontarf all those years ago, while my grandfather, Dickie Spence, was an incredible club member - always on hand when you needed him.

“My auntie, Adele Spence, started her cricket out in Clontarf and then had to move to Malahide to be eligible for Ireland - and she played in 1996. She played eight ODIs all up. Another auntie, Linda Spence, moved away and played for Scotland.”

Tector, 16, made her international debut in August 2024 and has played two ODIs to date. The right-arm medium-fast bowling all-rounder from Phoenix Cricket Club is the younger sister of Irish international Harry Tector.

Speaking from training, Tector talked about the feelings around making her debut: “I found out my first call-up when my mum and dad got a call from [selector] Ciara O’Brien. I was actually with them at the time – and, to be honest, I couldn’t really sit still for a while. I was so excited.

“But then we were up in Belfast one of the days and I had a chat with Ed Joyce and he just said I would be playing in the first ODI. That was definitely when the nerves started kicking in - but I couldn’t wait to get on the pitch. 

“It was amazing to be presented with my first cap for Ireland, more so with Gaby [Lewis] there presenting it to me. We’re really close and our families have always been really close. It was really special. But then with my family there as well supporting me.

“Then I remember just standing at the top of my mark, thinking that I was bowling to some of the best batters in the world. I’ve always wanted to do this since I was really young, so finally being there was pretty special. And I was quite glad to get that first ball out of the way!”

A first wicket is a special moment – what did she remember about it?

“Well, I wasn’t too happy with how I was bowling at the time, I was kind of struggling to find my length. My plan was just to bowl top of off stump, and then she [Kavisha Dilhari] tried to kind of hit me over mid-wicket. Luckily she didn’t fully connect and it was caught by Jane Maguire. It was a great feeling.”

England next?

“We’re really excited for the games against England. They’ve obviously got some new players coming into their squad but that doesn’t change anything for us. We’re really excited for the challenge and hopefully we can come off with the series win. We have obviously just come off a really good series win against Sri Lanka, so we just want to continue to be really positive and bring some of that cricket into the upcoming games.”