19 February - Gqeberha - Ireland Captain Laura Delany pre-match press conference
[Reporter]
My first question is about the strength of the Indian team. What do you think are the biggest strengths of the Indian team and what do you feel is going right for them in this tournament so far?
[Laura Delaney]
I think India have performed well in their last number of games. I think particularly in that England game, that in-swing bowler caused particular problems along with their spin bowlers, but I think some of their strengths is just their hard-hitting ability to clear the ropes and the key partnerships that they put together. So yeah, that's one area that we're very aware of at the moment.
[Reporter]
And we know what you did against Australia, although it was just a one-off win, but we know what you can do. So, do you think you guys should, would rather pull off such a performance against India as well if you want to defeat them?
[Laura Delaney]
A one-off win. I think if you look at our stats over the last little while, we had a 2-1 series win against Pakistan and then we beat South Africa. Yeah, look, obviously amazing to beat Australia. We were aware that it was a one-off game, but irrespective of any game that you play, you have to beat the opposition that's out there in front of you. We know that we've performed well in certain aspects of the game throughout the last number of games, but there are certain areas that we definitely want to target now in this last game. But I think what's most exciting for us is that we haven't played our best cricket yet and we want to put in a really good performance tomorrow and show everyone what we're capable of.
[Reporter]
Just wanted to touch upon something you just mentioned. Have you, in any of the games so far that you have played to the fullest of our potential as a team and what do you think you should do to bring that A game tomorrow?
[Laura Delaney]
I think we've performed well in certain parts of the game. Our top order have performed with great intent, but then we've failed to kick on in the latter stages of the first innings, which would be the batting innings. But I think we've bowled well at times. We just haven't been consistent. We haven't backed it up. And I think one area that we really want to try and focus on is making sure that if we perform with the bat, we back that up in the same game with the ball.
[Reporter]
This is the last game of the World Cup, if I'm not wrong for you. So, what kind of, you have nothing to lose as well, so what kind of attitude or what is the mindset of this team going into this game?
[Laura Delaney]
I think our mindset has been pretty similar throughout. We've just been taking each game as it comes and trying to stay focused on our processes. And I think that Australia game is a great example of that. If we stick to our processes, the outcome will take care of itself. I think at times throughout this tournament, nerves have definitely got the better of a few players, which is understandable. There are several players in this group that have never competed in a World Cup before and haven't played against certain sides like England and tomorrow against India, there'll be some girls that have never played against India. So there definitely will be nerves there. We've done as much work as we can do video footage wise to prepare us as best possible. But yeah, look, it's going to be a new challenge, but one that we're really looking forward to.
[Reporter]
Last one from me. You know, in the larger scheme of things, probably until before this April-May when Australia toured Ireland before the Commonwealth Games, you haven't played, as you said, against a lot of top sides that you're getting to play in the World Cup. What are your takeaways from your campaign so far and things you could probably potentially implement back home when you regroup and build the team for the next World Cup?
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, I think this tournament has definitely shown that there are certain areas that we need to continue to work on. Power hitting is one area that we're really going to focus on. Along with our fielding, we can perform much better as a fielding unit, but we haven't displayed that yet. But I think one area that I suppose has come on leaps and bounds is just the professionalism around the game in our squad. Obviously, Cricket Ireland brought in full time contracts back in March and I think our performances have definitely improved because of that. And I'm really excited about where this team can go. I know the past few performances may not have shown that to everyone else, but being involved and leading this team is such an honour and I know that we're heading in the right direction irrespective of the results.
[Reporter]
So if you look at individually, even in your teammates, there are a lot of exceptional performance, but the team hasn't been able to perform and go through the finishing line. So how do you look at that?
[Laura Delaney]
The back end of the batting innings, is it?
[Reporter]
Looking at the exceptional individual performance, for instance, the last match, Orla and Gabby got you through good stats, but you couldn't finish it off.
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, I think Orla has come on leaps and bounds over the last five or six months and you can see that she's playing with so much freedom and confidence. And as a batting unit, we definitely want to go out there and execute with the same mindset. But unfortunately, some players have just found it harder to get into the game, myself included. And look, cricket's a game where when you're doing well, you've got to ride that tide. But when things aren't going well, you've got to find a way to make it happen. And I think the back end of the batting innings the other day was one area that we said, no, look, we're 30 or 40 runs short here. But all we can do is stick to our plans and go out with that hard hitting approach. And that's the way that we're going to beat these better sides, to continue to hit boundaries. Ones and twos aren't going to win the game. So yeah, look, I have full faith in all my players and continue to back them with whatever plans that they have in place.
[Reporter]
Do you think the absence of someone like Rebecca Stokel has hurt the team?
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, I think it's really unfortunate that Rebecca hasn't had an opportunity to participate in this World Cup. She got into really good form there in the qualifiers and accelerated at the back end of the innings, which is one area that we want to keep continuing to do. But it's unfortunate for her and it's unfortunate for the team. But we're right behind her and hopefully she'll be available for our next series whenever that might be.
[Reporter]
Obviously, you mentioned the nerves there and the young squad we've got. Do you think this World Cup has just come maybe just too early for some of them?
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, look, that's a good question. I think we've prepared as best we can for this World Cup and unfortunately, you're never exposed to that type of nerves or internal expectation or pressure until you get out there. So, I think heading into this World Cup, having that series win against Pakistan gave us a huge amount of confidence. And then this is just the next step in our journey, playing in the stadium under lights in front of a crowd for some girls. That is nerve wracking and that's part of the journey. But look, I think there are certain things we've done incredibly well throughout this tournament. So yeah, there are going to be nerves there, but we need to find a way to overcome them as a team.
[Reporter]
And following on from that, I presume the batting collapses, you’re obviously [inaudible] every match. That's just pressure, is it?
[Laura Delaney]
To be honest, I think we're trying to be as fearless in our manner and approach as we can be. And when you come in after having such a good power play and platform to build on, you want to keep going with that. And I suppose as a result, we're probably trying to take on the inner ring or create something that may not necessarily be there. But look, we fully backed the way that we want to perform and take on the game. And we've got to keep sticking with that. I think it's more about execution rather than the plans that we've set out with and the execution we just have to be better with.
[Reporter]
Sorry to focus on the negatives, but I suppose you're hoping that was just a one off, obviously, and the catching on Friday.
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, absolutely. Definitely a one off. We train so well in training. And the girls have proven to be quite resilient, particularly if you look back at the results over the last number of ones, you might lose a game, but then you come back and that's one thing about having such a young team is that there's so much energy and buzz around this group and they're so hungry to succeed. But yeah, we definitely want to park that fielding and go again tomorrow.
[Reporter]
But defiantly, you said at the last press conference there, the best is yet to come. So hopefully you have to go into tomorrow believing that you can have another big performance, the perfect performance against India.
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, I think we're not going to focus on the outcome. We know that, look, we'd love to beat India tomorrow. But I think if we continue to stick to our processes, which is what has worked so well for us when we've been successful and get around each other in the field and make sure that we stick to the standards that we've set in training, then hopefully we'll be very happy with the outcome.
[Reporter]
It was just really interesting what something you said there a second ago, like ones and twos aren't going to win games against bigger opposition. Is there any argument at all that against a side like the West Indies that was kind of struggling the way they were, obviously had a big injury with Taylor out and they were kind of a lot very reliant on Haley? Was there an argument that maybe going at sevens and eights instead of nines and tens could have got a winning score? Granted, not a winning score against your England's, your India's, but against a side of that calibre, just to get over the line maybe going down, not going down, not playing within yourselves, but going down one gear perhaps might have led to, you know, 150, which probably would have been a winning score.
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, look, that's a great point. And I suppose as a team, the next step that we want to get is to be able to decide on the situation and determine what the best route then is to take. And one area that we have spoken about is that we want to go out with a fearless nature and we want to take on the inner ring. And maybe the other day wasn't the best opportunity to do that in terms of the top order setting such a good platform. But I suppose that's the mindset and the culture that we've created. And that's one thing that we're going to try and stick with. But yeah, look, I probably didn't phrase that answer. The best ones and twos are really important. But when you've ever run up on the offside and you're trying to get the ball through, you need to be able to hit over the fielders or hit through them.
[Reporter]
Yeah, it sounds like the mindset is kind of excellent, really. It's really refreshing. It's not something we've seen from our side for a long time. Obviously, you mentioned, execution at times lets you down. World Cup, maybe just things are harder. How long do you think it takes for the execution to catch up to the mindset? Because that's something that's really been a massive turnaround in the last 12 months.
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, I think that's, I suppose, down to each individual. You look at Amy and Orla, obviously Gabby is quite an aggressive player. That's how she's always played her cricket. And we definitely admire her for that. And Amy and Orla have now embraced that and their game is going from strength to strength. And look, at times they're going to get out early. And that's one of the challenges about playing better sides. You can play against other teams and you might hit the ball either side of the fielder and you get away with it. But against better fielders and against better bowlers, you have to be in the right position and you have to hit it either side of them. Otherwise, your work is going to go. But I think it's just a matter of making sure that when we go into training, we're really clear on what it is that we're trying to do. And then the next step is after a game, making sure that we have a look at our video footage and see where execution went wrong so that we can improve at the next game.
[Reporter]
I know it's still tomorrow, obviously, but just not quite sure when we get to chat to you again. So how do you reflect on this campaign? Obviously, there were quite a few high expectations. Getting your first win at a T20 World Cup was a big goal. How do you reflect on the last week to 10 days and the campaign as a whole before that?
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, I'm really proud of the way we've approached this World Cup. I think we were really prepared. There's such a good energy and buzz around the girls and it's a brilliant squad to be a part of. We are definitely heading in the right direction. And I think at times, I know I've said we've performed really well in certain areas, be it with the new ball or taking on the power play. But there are certain areas that we do want to improve on. And the fielding is definitely one area that we've spoken about. We set our standards in training and we don't want to let that dip once we go into games. And then I suppose making sure that we kick on at the back end because against the better sides, 20 or 30 runs, could be the difference between winning and losing, which unfortunately proved that the other day. But overall, I think I just want to keep focusing on the positives with this group because there's so much potential within this team and the squad at the moment. And if we keep putting our best foot forward, hopefully we'll just keep tracking in the right direction.
[Reporter]
First things first, just staying with your reflections on the tournament. That warm up win against Australia, it was really quite something in Stellenbosch and how much of a takeaway do you think that is going to be for Ireland as you move on in this tournament and also when you head back home? And do you reckon you could implement some of the learnings from that big win against a side like Australia going into tomorrow's game?
[Laura Delaney]
Yeah, I think Australia is a great example of where we did everything that we could and we stuck to our plans and we batted really well, we batted with intent, everyone contributed and then we backed that up with the ball and we took our opportunities in the field. So, for us, that was a full performance. And I think looking at each game in the World Cup so far, there have been certain areas that have let us down. And I think going back then to the Bangladesh warm up game and to the Sri Lanka warm up game, again, we performed incredibly well. But you need to do that when you're actually in your group stage, which we haven't done yet. But yeah, look, I'm really confident that if we go out and stick to our processes tomorrow and just keep backing ourselves that we'll put in the performance that we want.
[Reporter]
And given we are coming off a big week in women's cricket, and knowing that there were a number of Ireland players who had enlisted themselves for the auction at the WPL, do you reckon that has there been a sense of disappointment around how the associate players selection went about with only one associate player eventually being picked? And where does the Fairbreak tournament come into play in this regard now that we know that the WPL, a big tournament that is being launched, will have only one associate player representing the associate nations? And how does Fairbreak compare to that in your opinion?
[Laura Delaney]
Look, if I'm completely honest, every player would want to get picked for the WIPL. But in fairness to the squad, we've been very focused on what we have to do each day, be it a training or a game. So, there hasn't been a huge amount of chat about it. Or in terms of the selection, I know there's certain girls that have performed really well in this tournament from Ireland, Orla Prendergast who's one player who would hopefully be in with a shout. But yeah, look, it's not something that we've spoken about too much in detail.
[Reporter]
My question is, how difficult it has been for your team to motivate yourself to finish the tournament on a winning note after losing all the three matches till now in the World Cup?
[Laura Delaney]
It hasn't been difficult at all. We're out here and we want to perform our best cricket and we know we've done it in certain areas, but we want to do it in a complete performance. So that's enough motivation for us in itself. And look, we've been training really hard. We've had a huge amount of support since we've been out here. And we're enjoying playing against the best sides in the world. So, we're highly motivated and we're looking forward to this game tomorrow.