Niall O'Brien (cricketer)
Wicketkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Relations |
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International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National side |
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Only Test (cap 7) | 11 May 2018 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ODI debut (cap 13) | 5 August 2006 v Scotland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last ODI | 31 August 2018 v Afghanistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ODI shirt no. | 72 (formerly 0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T20I debut (cap 7) | 2 August 2008 v Scotland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last T20I | 13 March 2016 v Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T20I shirt no. | 72 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004–2006 | Khulna Royal Bengals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | Rangpur Riders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013–2016 | Leicestershire (squad no. 10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | North West Warriors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 12 June 2019 |
Niall John O'Brien (born 8 November 1981) is a former Irish cricketer and a cricket commentator. He is a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. Domestically O'Brien began his professional career with Kent in 2004 before joining Northamptonshire at the start of 2007, spending six seasons there before joining Leicestershire for 2013.
He made his One Day International debut for Ireland in 2006; two years later he played his first Twenty20 International. He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Ireland's first ever Test match, against Pakistan, in May 2018.
O'Brien has also played in overseas twenty20 leagues, first the Indian Cricket League in 2008 and then the Bangladesh Premier League on its formation in 2012. His brother, Kevin, plays alongside him in the Ireland team while his father, Brendan, played cricket for Ireland from 1966 to 1981.[1]
In October 2018, O'Brien announced his retirement from cricket.[2]
Personal life and education
O'Brien was educated in Marian College, Ballsbridge.[3] His brother Kevin is also a member of the Ireland team. Their father Brendan played 52 times for Ireland.[4] His sister Ciara O'Brien is in the Ireland women's hockey team.
Domestic career
Niall first gained recognition playing domestic cricket in
O'Brien has spent many an Australian summer playing for
Along with fellow Ireland player Ed Joyce, O'Brien made a series of impressive performances for Ireland before starting to take part in English cricket with Kent. O'Brien found multiple chances to perform for his county as fellow wicket-keeper Geraint Jones has found himself performing more often for the England cricket team.
After being released by Kent he signed a one-year deal with Northamptonshire for 2007. In the same year, he joined the Essel Group's
At the end of the
O'Brien missed most of the 2010 season after undergoing finger surgery in July; in his absence, David Murphy was Northamptonshire's first-choice wicket-keeper.[12]
In 2012, O'Brien signed a contract worth $80,000 with
International career
His innings of 72 from 107 balls in the 2007 Cricket World Cup group match against Pakistan helped Ireland earn an upset victory and also earned him the man of the match award.[16][17]
O'Brien was one of seven Ireland players to be nominated for the 2009 Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year (there were fourteen nominees in all),[18] although he did not make the 4-man short-list.[19] O'Brien was selected in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup.[20]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Ireland_vs_Pakistan2_cropped_%28O%27Brien%29.jpg/220px-Ireland_vs_Pakistan2_cropped_%28O%27Brien%29.jpg)
O'Brien set a
On 16 February 2015, he smashed unbeaten 79 runs off 60 balls with 11 fours, guided Ireland to the victory against another
On 23 March 2018, in Ireland's match against Afghanistan in the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, O'Brien played in his 100th ODI match.[26]
Test cricket
In May 2018, he was named in a fourteen-man squad for Ireland's first ever Test match, which was played against Pakistan later the same month.[27][28] He made his Test debut for Ireland, against Pakistan, on 11 May 2018. The Test match commenced on 12 May 2018, after the first day was washed out.[29][30] However, he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings.
References
- ^ Brendan O'Brien, CricketArchive Retrieved on 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Niall O'Brien: Ireland and Warriors wicketkeeper retires at 36". BBC Sport. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ Kevin O'Brien –Congrats!, Marian College, archived from the original on 4 March 2016, retrieved 6 March 2011
- ^ O'Brien is toast of Ireland. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
- ^ ESPNcricinfo staff (22 March 2007), O'Brien to renew old ties with Lara, ESPNcricinfo Retrieved on 7 March 2008.
- ^ Ireland v West Indians Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast 17 June 2004 (50-over match), ESPNcricinfo, 17 June 2004 Retrieved on 7 March 2008.
- ^ ESPNcricinfo staff (3 September 2006), O'Brien receives one-match ban by match referee, ESPNcricinfo Retrieved on 7 March 2008.
- ^ ESPNcricinfo staff (14 November 2007), Lara and Inzamam named in ICL teams, ESPNcricinfo Retrieved on 20 November 2007.
- ^ Ashok Ganguly (10 March 2008), Niall O'Brien returns for Ireland, ESPNcricinfo Retrieved on 10 March 2008.
- ^ Northants pair get extended deals, BBC Online, 7 November 2008, retrieved 7 November 2008
- ^ Alex Brown (26 July 2009), Johnson's Edgbaston hopes recede, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 31 July 2009
- ^ Ireland's Niall O'Brien targets upsets at World Cup, BBC Sport, 21 January 2011, retrieved 23 January 2011
- ^ Bangladesh Premier League: players standing after auction (PDF), ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 6 April 2012
- ^ Bangladesh Premier League, 2011/12 / Records / Most runs, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 6 April 2012
- ^ Leicestershire sign Niall O'Brien from Northants, BBC Sport, 25 October 2012, retrieved 22 June 2013
- ^ Will Luke (17 March 2007), Pakistan sent home by bold Ireland, ESPNcricinfo Retrieved on 7 March 2008.
- ^ ICC World Cup – 9th match, Group D Ireland v Pakistan, ESPNcricinfo, 17 March 2007 Retrieved on 7 March 2008.
- ^ ESPNcricinfo staff (2 September 2009), Dhoni, Dilshan pick up maximum nominations, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 3 September 2009
- ^ ESPNcricinfo staff (15 September 2010), Strauss, Johnson and Gambhir lead ICC nominations, retrieved 20 August 2010
- ^ ESPNcricinfo staff (19 January 2011), Ireland pick Ed Joyce for World Cup, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 27 January 2011
- ^ Ireland pick Ed Joyce for World Cup, ESPNcricinfo, 19 January 2011, retrieved 27 January 2011
- ^ Brickhill, Liam (6 March 2011), Chicken dance at the Chinnaswamy, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 7 March 2011
- ^ Brickhill, Liam (6 March 2011), Ireland beaten, but with their honour intact, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 7 March 2011
- ^ Bolton, Paul (23 May 2011), Niall O'Brien hand injury is a blow for Ireland, The Cricketer, retrieved 6 April 2012
- ^ "Full Scorecard of West Indies vs Ireland 5th Match, Pool B 2015 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "UAE give Afghanistan and Ireland World Cup life". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Ireland omit George Dockrell for historic first men's Test against Pakistan". BBC Sport. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Only Test, Pakistan tour of Ireland, England and Scotland at Dublin, May 11-15 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ "Ireland win toss, opt to bowl in historic Test against Pakistan". Geo TV. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
External links
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