Ireland`s Kevin O`Brien who launched his international career in the Caribbean says he is relishing a return to the region where it all started for him.
|Last Updated: Jul 19, 2013, 02:15 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Bridgetown (Barbados): Ireland`s Kevin O`Brien who launched his international career in the Caribbean says he is relishing a return to the region where it all started for him.
The 29-year-old all-rounder, who burst on to the international scene in the Caribbean at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, says the region has a special place in the hearts of those involved in Irish cricket.
Ireland tied with Zimbabwe and beat Pakistan in Jamaica to make the Super Sixes in 2007 before recording another win against Bangladesh in Barbados.
“It is always fun to go back to the West Indies. St. Patrick`s Day 2007 was where it all started for myself and Irish cricket with that famous win over Pakistan,” said O’Brien who played in the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year.
“It announced Irish cricket to the world, and we had tremendous support not only from our own fans but the West Indies fans who backed us too.”
O’Brien will play for Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in the Caribbean Premier League later this month.
Red Steel opens their campaign with a match against Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium July 31.
“Looking at our squad, it is full of world class players. As well as Dwayne Bravo, Ross Taylor and Fidel Edwards, there are also Davy Jacobs, Samuel Badree, who been incredibly consistent, and Kevon Cooper, who had those stints in the IPL,” said O’Brien.
“We have got a lot of experienced and exciting players who I think will do well in the tournament. It is a great team to be involved with and hopefully we can turn in strong performances throughout the competition.”
The CPL will act as preparation for O’Brien’s return to international colours, with Ireland playing England in an ODI at the country’s new international venue, Malahide, 3 Sep 3.
Ireland is also slated to take part in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier in the United Arab Emirates in October.
“It is absolutely massive for me in terms of my career, but having said that I do not want to place too much pressure on myself,” said O’Brien who scored the fastest hundred in ICC Cricket World Cup history when he reached three figures in just 50 balls on the way to 113 from 63 deliveries against England in Bangalore in 2011.
“It is going to be an excellent tournament with global exposure and I`ll be looking to impress and improve as a player, and keep putting my reputation as a Twenty20 player out there on the world stage.”
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.