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Cricket Ireland has named the former Ireland captain Gary Wilson as the new head coach of the Ireland National Cricket Team after the team’s historic T20I series win over India.
On Monday, June 29, Cricket Ireland made this announcement after Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan resigns after 2-0 T20I series victory against India at home.
Gary Wilson takes over as new Ireland head coach
With the appointment, Gary Wilson has become the first Irish-born coach to take charge of the Ireland men's team since John Wills did the job more than 30 years ago. It is a proud moment for Irish cricket, with a homegrown coach now leading the national side.
Wilson will begin his new role as Ireland's head coach at a crucial stage for the team. His main focus will now be to build a strong squad and prepare Ireland for the road to the ICC World Cup 2027. Gautam Gambhir driving key India selection calls under Shreyas Iyer.
However, despite resigning from the position, Heinrich Malan will not leave immediately. He will work closely with Wilson over the next few weeks to help with the handover. Cricket Ireland confirmed this arrangement to make sure the new head coach has enough time to settle in before Ireland begins their ODI series against Afghanistan in August.
Gary Wilson reveals his coaching vision; pays emotional tribute to Heinrich Malan
Meanwhile, Gary Wilson thanked former Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan for trusting him and giving him important coaching responsibilities over the last four years. He said those opportunities helped him prepare for becoming Ireland's new head coach. Wilson also wished Malan and his family success and happiness for the future.
Wilson said in an official statement: “Representing Ireland as a player is something I will always be hugely proud of, but to now take on the role of head coach is a very special honor that means a great deal to me. I have been extremely fortunate over the years to have worked with some of the best coaches around and have had the opportunity to learn so much.”
He further stated, “My coaching beliefs have been shaped by each coach I have worked with and are centered around strong communication, building and maintaining relationships to get the best out of players, hard work, a player-centered focus, and setting high challenges for those who are driven to succeed. Above all, the power of the connection to the Shamrock is something I’ve witnessed, and it is something I intend to use to our advantage.”
Gary Wilson's career
Gary Wilson enjoyed 15 years playing for Ireland, featuring in 292 international matches before calling time on his career in 2020. He played two Tests, 105 ODIs, and 81 T20Is during his career and scored over 3300 runs across the formats. He also has an impressive domestic record.
Wilson has 4834 runs in 107 games. First-class games, 4066 runs in 217 List-A games, and 3350 runs in 204 T20 games to his name. After retirement, Wilson moved into coaching. He first took charge of the North West Warriors and later joined Ireland's senior men's team as an assistant coach in 2022.
