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Ed Joyce

Ed Joyce 2007 cropped
Ed Joyce 2007 cropped Image: Wikimedia Commons. paddynapper / CC BY-SA 2.0

Edmund Christopher "Ed" Joyce (born 22 September 1978) is an Irish cricket coach and former cricketer who represented both the Ireland and England national cricket teams. A left-handed batsman who occasionally bowled right-arm medium pace, Joyce is widely regarded as one of the finest cricketers produced by Ireland.

Key facts

Full name Edmund Christopher Joyce
Born 22 September 1978
Nationality Irish
Batting Left-handed
Bowling Right-arm medium (occasional)
National sides Ireland, England
Domestic teams Middlesex, Sussex, Leinster Lightning
Retirement 24 May 2018
Coaching role Interim head coach, Ireland women's cricket team (from June 2019)

Background

Joyce began his professional career in English county cricket with Middlesex. After qualifying through residency to represent England, he was selected for the senior England squad and went on to feature in major international assignments before returning to Irish cricket in the later stages of his career.

Career

County cricket

Joyce played for Middlesex before moving to Sussex in 2009. After his time in the English county game, he returned to Ireland to play for Leinster Lightning in the newly established first-class competition, the Irish Inter-Provincial Championship.

England

Having qualified to play for England, Joyce was a member of the England squad during the 2006–07 Ashes series in Australia and the 2007 Cricket World Cup held in the West Indies.

Return to Ireland

After dropping down the pecking order for England selection, Joyce received a special dispensation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to represent Ireland in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Ireland's first-ever Test match, against Pakistan.

Retirement and coaching

Joyce announced his retirement from all professional cricket on 24 May 2018. In June 2019, he was appointed as the interim head coach of the Ireland women's cricket team.

Timeline

  • 22 September 1978 – Born.
  • 2006–07 – Part of the England squad for the Ashes series in Australia.
  • 2007 – Member of England's squad at the Cricket World Cup.
  • 2009 – Moved to Sussex from Middlesex.
  • 2011 – Played for Ireland at the World Cup under ICC dispensation.
  • 2018 (May) – Retired from professional cricket.
  • 2018 – Featured in Ireland's inaugural Test match, against Pakistan.
  • 2019 (June) – Appointed interim head coach of the Ireland women's cricket team.

Significance

Joyce's career bridged Ireland's transition from an associate cricketing nation to a Full Member of the ICC. Having played international cricket for England at the highest levels of the global limited-overs calendar, his return to play for Ireland and his presence in the country's historic first Test match underline his importance to the development of Irish cricket. He is broadly regarded as one of the leading batsmen Ireland has produced.

References