Ireland’s teenage spin sensation Aimee Maguire has been cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resume bowling in international cricket, following a suspension earlier this year for an illegal bowling action.
The 18-year-old left-arm spinner was reported for a suspect action during the first ODI against India in Rajkot on January 10. A subsequent review found her action to be in breach of the ICC’s Illegal Bowling Regulations, resulting in a suspension from bowling at the international level.
Since then, Maguire has worked on remodelling her bowling action and recently underwent an independent re-assessment at an ICC-accredited testing centre. The re-evaluation concluded that her elbow extension now falls within the permitted 15-degree limit.
"An independent assessment of Maguire's remodelled bowling action at an ICC-accredited testing centre concluded that the amount of elbow extension was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations," the ICC said in an official release.
Maguire made her international debut in July 2023 against West Indies and has since featured in 11 ODIs and nine T20Is. In ODIs, she has taken 16 wickets, including a standout 5 for 19 against England. In the shorter format, she has nine wickets with an economy rate of 7.20.
Despite being cleared, Maguire is not part of the Ireland squad currently facing Pakistan in a three-match T20I series in Dublin, which begins Wednesday.
Her return to the bowling crease will be eagerly awaited by Irish fans, with her talent and potential making her one of the most promising young cricketers in the country.