Cricketer Amy Hunter is just 19 years old but she is already a mainstay in Irish women's cricket team. She made her T20 international debut for Ireland in May 2021 when she was 15 years and a few months later in October 2021 she earned her ODI cap. Days after her ODI debut, Hunter became the youngest cricketer to score an international century when she made 121 not out against Zimbabwe in Harare on her 16th birthday (October 11, 2021). The Irish wicket-keeper batter also has the distinction of being Ireland's first-ever U-19 Women's World Cup captain.

On August 24, Hunter scored her second T20 century and helped Ireland seal a spot in the Global Qualifiers for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

The cricketer from Belfast recently spoke to the International Cricket Council about her cricketing journey.

On her beginnings

Hunter told the ICC that her entry into cricket happened by chance. "My brothers had cricket training every Friday evening, my dad and I would go and pick them up...then one week he sort of just said why don't I join in," she said. Hunter added that some of the people at the cricket club "really encouraged" her and after she "just kept going back every week." The 19-year-old also credited other sports like hockey for her shots.

On her inspiration

Hunter told the ICC that she aspires to be like Australian cricketing star Alyssa Healy. "...watching players like Alyssa Healy score 360 degrees it's (0:47) definitely something I want to develop into my game," she said. She also rated Healy's 100 in the 2022 World Cup against England on her favourite moments from cricket's biggest stage. "My iconic women's World Cup moment would probably be Alyssa Healy's 100 in 2022 versus England. I think probably just kind of growing up she's always been one of my favourite players to kind of see that on the biggest stage," the cricketer said.

On captaining the U-19 team

"It meant a huge amount to be named the first Under-19 World Cup captain. I think just kind of the whole build up to that tournament was amazing kind of being the first team," Hunter said while speaking about captaining Ireland at the inaugural Under-19 Women's World Cup in 2023. "We sort of had a vision for what we wanted to achieve at that tournament and it was just so exciting to kind of be able to set our own plan and then kind of follow through with that," she added.

On current challenges

Hunter has called balancing education and cricket has her "greatest" challenge in the last couple of years. "I think just obviously the nature of cricket is such long tours and I am kind of trying to do that alongside school. It has been challenging at times but definitely have a lot of support in the right areas," she said.

Outside cricket

Hunter has loved all kinds of sports since childhood and called golf one of the "major things" she likes to play other than cricket. The Irish cricketer said she also loves meeting her friends and drinking coffee.