Cricket Ireland has announced the appointment of Ed Joyce, a former international cricketer, as their high performance batting coach.
Joyce, who has played for both Ireland and England, will be working with the senior men’s team and the country’s male talent development pathway. He will start his new position immediately, collaborating with men’s head coach Gary Wilson and high performance director Graeme West.
‘The Talent is There’: Joyce on His New Role
“After retiring from playing, it was essential for me to remain connected to Irish cricket,” Joyce stated. He noted the significant effort that has been put into preparing players for international competition. “I am eager to contribute my insights to enhance the batting group. The talent exists; our focus now is on achieving consistency,” he remarked.
Joyce’s Impressive Career
Joyce had a notable playing career, representing both Ireland and England before retiring from international cricket in 2018. Following his retirement, he took on the role of head coach for the Ireland women’s team, a position he held for nearly six years until April 2025. He has also served as a batting coach for Gloucestershire in county cricket and the Dublin Guardians in the ETPL, in addition to his work as a broadcaster.
During his playing days, Joyce was instrumental in Ireland’s ascent in international cricket, amassing 2,151 runs in 61 ODIs for Ireland with an average of 41.36. He is particularly remembered for his role in Ireland’s historic win over England in the 2011 World Cup. Joyce also played 17 ODIs for England, scoring 471 runs, making him one of the few players to compete in the World Cup for two different nations before returning to Ireland to make his Test debut in 2018.
Preparing for World Cup Qualifiers
As Ireland’s senior men’s team gears up for the 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier, set to take place from February 22 to March 23, they aim to bolster their batting lineup. Their latest challenge was a five-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home in August, which ended in a 4-0 defeat for Ireland.
Joyce’s addition to the coaching staff brings valuable experience to Ireland’s high performance framework as the team prepares for the World Cup qualification journey and continues to nurture the next generation of male cricketers.