Cricket Ireland announces central contract list for 2026-27

Cricket Ireland has announced its central contract list for the 2026–27 season. A total of 48 players secured deals ahead of a busy cricketing year. The list includes 25 men’s players and 23 women’s players.

Of the 25 men’s contracts, 20 are full-time deals, while five players have been awarded retainer contracts. On the women’s side, eight players have signed full-time contracts, with 10 on education contracts and five on casual contracts. Six players on education contracts will go full-time during the year.

Seven players have earned their maiden central contracts in the men’s setup, with five of them having made their senior international debuts in 2025. The five with international experience are Ben Calitz, Jordan Neill, Tom Mayes, Tim Tector, and Cade Carmichael. The two domestic performers to win a first-time contract are Reuben Wilson and Matthew Hollard. Wilson was also rewarded for his run at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026.

There are no new inclusions in the women’s contracts.

Sophie MacMahon, who has retired, and Freya Sargent, who has stepped away from international cricket, are no longer part of the centrally contracted players.

Graeme West, Director of High Performance at Cricket Ireland, viewed the central contracts as a crucial factor in the development of Irish cricket, even as the side gears up for greater challenges.

"The central contracts are a critical component of the development of our senior squads, as they help ensure the availability and readiness of players who will feature for Ireland on the global stage throughout the next 12 months. This is critical with the men’s side playing all three formats this summer, and our women playing both white ball formats, including a T20 World Cup."

Men's

Mark Adair

Ross Adair

Andrew Balbirnie – Test captain

Ben Calitz

Curtis Campher

Cade Carmichael

Gareth Delany

George Dockrell

Stephen Doheny

Gavin Hoey

Matthew Hollard

Matthew Humphreys

Joshua Little

Tom Mayes

Andy McBrine

Barry McCarthy

Liam McCarthy

Jordan Neil

Paul Stirling – ODI captain

Harry Tector

Tim Tector

Lorcan Tucker

Ben White

Reuben Wilson

Craig Young

Women's

Ava Canning

Christina Coulter Reilly

Alana Dalzell

Georgina Dempsey

Laura Delany

Sarah Forbes

Abbi Harrison

Amy Hunter

Jennifer Jackson

Arlene Kelly

Gaby Lewis – ODI and T20I captain

Louise Little

Joanna Loughran

Aimee Maguire

Jane Maguire

Lara McBride

Kia McCartney

Ellie McGee

Cara Murray

Leah Paul

Orla Prendergast

Rebecca Stokell

Alice Tector