Ireland, captained by Miriam Greally from YMCA, play the first of a three-match series against the South African women's team at Civil Service CC at Stormont today.
The South Africans, making their first visit to Europe, are captained by Kim Price, who has also represented her country at hockey.
The series is an important one for the Irish women, who intend to compete in the World Cup in India next December. Ireland is ranked fifth in the world, and reached the European Cup finals in 1995, before losing to the eventual winners, England.
Despite these achievements, the Irish Women's Cricket Union's approach to the Department of Education's sports section for a £15,000 grant towards participation in the World Cup in India was rewarded only by a paltry allocation of £4,000.
This week's other matches against South Africa will be played at Castle Avenue on Thursday and at Sydney Parade on Friday and play begins in both cases at 1.00.
Ireland Women (squad for three-match series v South Africa): M Greally (YMCA) capt, C O'Neill (Railway Union), C Beggs, A Spence, B McDonald (all Malahide), J Herbison, C Shillington, N Squire, A Lenihan (all Belfast Ladies), G Leahy (Clontarf), S Young, C O'Leary (both YMCA), S Dawson (Middlesex), C Sharp (Pembroke).
