We set a very high standard for ourselves: Ireland U19s Women’s captain Niamh MacNulty

Ireland Under-19s Women captain Niamh MacNulty spoke from the team hotel ahead of their campaign at the ICC Under-19s Women’s T20 World Cup.

MacNulty, 18, was announced as captain due to the withdrawal of star batter Amy Hunter through injury. She has had the opportunity to settle into the role during the team’s warm up camp in the UAE and during the official warm up games in Malaysia. 

MacNulty was able to elaborate on the feeling upon hearing she would be captaining her country at a World Cup: “It was my goal at the end of the last World Cup to be part of the leadership group for the next one - whether that was as a senior member of the squad or helping out and giving advice. So getting to the opportunity first to become vice-captain and then unfortunately with the injury of Amy, to get the role. It's a bittersweet feeling, but it was super exciting.”

Speaking on how she likes to approach captaincy, she said: “I am always looking at the whole picture of the team which might not necessarily be cricket knowledge or tactics. First, you want everyone to be on the same page. Second, to be happy to be competitive. You can bring that through positive encouragement which is probably the most important thing.

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“But I think you know your own skills. All of that training you've had in the past will fall into place when everyone has the same idea. My style is not one thing or another but more so to adapt to situations as they arise.”

Focusing on her own performance: “Captaincy takes your mind off your own game because you're looking at the bigger picture. As a player you can get quite bogged down about your own personal performance, but when you take a step back and realise how your personal performance might benefit the entire team as a whole - I think you actually will perform better. And you back yourself more because you have the confidence of your team backing you in turn.”

Goals within the playing group: “About a year ago we said we wanted to get to a quarterfinal - so it's not just winning one group game, it's winning as many as we can and getting as close to the top of the group. We came out of the last world cup knowing that we probably could have won another game. After coming third in the group last time, this time around we are aiming to better that. 

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“We set a very high standard for ourselves and I think having that closeness in the team is really nice off the pitch as well as on the pitch because you want to be part of each other's successes. And I think that's what makes you kind of love the sport a bit more, when you have a brilliant and close-knit team behind you.”