Jeremy Lawlor has no regrets over switch to Irish cricket

The tour is scheduled to run until March 19, and will see the Wolves play a multi-format eight-match series against Bangladesh A.

The 25-year old Welsh-born Lawlor, an Irish passport-holder, has played first-class cricket for Glamorgan Cricket Club, spent a season at Phoenix in Dublin, and recently signed for Carrickfergus ahead of the 2021 season. He is a right-handed top-order batsman who bowls a lively fast medium pace as well as off spin.

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s departure for Bangladesh, Lawlor said: “My grandfather was Irish and grew up in Arklow, so playing for Ireland was something I had thought about for a good few years now.

“I was looking into playing for the under-19’s at the time - it was something that my coach at the time John Derrick helped me look into - but the qualification criteria back then was different.

“But when Ireland became a Test nation, the qualification criteria changed and once my time at Glamorgan had finished, I thought there could be a potential opportunity in coming here.

“I’ve been playing cricket since I can remember really as a kid, along with rugby and football. As I got older, I also played a lot of Squash - I found there were huge crossover benefits of playing Squash and batting.”

His introduction to Irish cricket was a positive one last year, despite the pandemic.

“I really enjoyed my time playing cricket last season, to get any cricket in at all was a result within itself considering the situation we were in with Covid and the lockdowns.

“I owe a big thank you to Phoenix for helping me get over and settled here, as well as Ted Williamson and the Munster Reds for allowing me to play for them.

Obviously I was extremely delighted to get the call up for this tour... when I got told it officially from Andrew White it was a great feeling.”

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