All the talk prior to England’s first tour of Ireland since 1995 had been about the visitors’ surplus of debutants, and indeed, England’s cap presentations swallowed 20 minutes before the start of play in the first ODI on Saturday: Hollie Armitage, Hannah Baker, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Paige Scholfield and Mady Villiers all playing in their maiden ODI.
But in the end, it was an old hand who stole the show – the 32-year-old Kate Cross, who already had 91 caps to her name, finished with career-best figures of six for 30 and was unbeaten on 38 with the bat, as she led her team to a four-wicket win.
