|| Desk Report ||

Niall O’Brien has followed Ed Joyce’s footsteps to call it quits from international cricket just months after playing his only Test match. Losing two of star cricketers who paved the team’s way to the Test cricket fraternity, it can be said that a new chapter is in the making for Ireland’s cricket.

Niall has been a part of the national side for over a decade, playing a total of 134 international matches. With 3000 international runs which also includes an ODI century, he is the fifth-highest run-getter for the Ireland national team across the formats.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my retirement from international and professional cricket,” said the 36-year-old. “I have been blessed to have been lucky enough to have represented my country for 16 years with plenty more ups than downs and for this I look back with nothing but smiles and laughter.

“I would like to thank all my coaches and team-mates who along the way have helped me become the player I was. I have had too many coaches to mention them all but a special thanks must go to Adrian 'Adi' Birrell who took a chance on me in 2002 and who arranged a trial at Kent from where I started my 14-year county career, which was an absolute privilege and an honour.

“I always tried to play with a smile on my face and with an enjoyment that I think all people could see whether watching from the stands, standing with me in the field or coming up against me for the opposition. Hard work was always behind my performance and I will take this same ethos into the next phase of my career where I have been working in the sports agency business for the last 2 years alongside my playing commitments and will continue to pursue this avenue.”