Richard Gillismeets Niall and Kevin O'Brien, who carried Ireland over the line against Pakistan
Stories of cricket's spiralling profile continue to reach Kingston. There's a sign in the window of Ladbrokes in Ringsend, south Dublin, apparently. Yesterday, next to the list of Premiership scorers, racing from the Curragh and the Donegal- Kerry GAA odds, was this: Brothers in Arms - Which brother will score the most runs against the West Indies? 4 to 6 Niall O'Brien, 11 to 10 Kevin O'Brien.
On the basis there aren't many poor bookies around, cricket can safely say it's made an impression.
In the late afternoon gloom of last Saturday evening, Ireland's hopes of beating Pakistan rested with the O'Briens who shared a critical partnership, one that helped carry Ireland over the finish line and into the history books. Niall, older by two years, won the man of the match award for his top score of 71. It was street-wise batting from a player hardened by his time in county cricket.
"I know most of the Pakistan players from my time at Kent," says Niall. "I knew what they would try to do: bowl full with the odd bouncer, looking to get me lbw."
At the other end, Kevin, taller, stockier and with his dad's red hair, played a blinder of passive aggression. Sometimes, victory depends on the under-rated ability to hang on in there, to see it out until the end.
Kevin's knock of 16 in 156 balls and nearly two hours wasn't going to win any prizes. But it helped win the game. As wickets tumbled at the other end, he stayed there.
Talking to them, it's tempting to extend the analogy. Niall is more extrovert, more in your face. Kevin is quieter, more reflective, letting his brother do most of the talking. You wonder if that's how it's been all along. Older brother getting the kudos, younger one quietly working away from the limelight .
They have that thing that brothers sometimes have, so familiar in each other's company that one starts a sentence and lets the other finish it.
"I kept saying, we've got plenty of time, loads of overs left," says Kevin, "I wanted to be there at the end."
"Yeah, Kev got us there," says his brother. "The first time I thought we were in with a chance was earlier in the day, when William Porterfield caught Mohammed Yousuf (the extravagantly talented Pakistan batsman). He was looking so good and played a loose shot. I thought to myself 'game on'," says Niall from beneath the peak of his baseball cap.
Towards the end of the day, in the near darkness, the brothers were able to pick out family and friends in the crowd. All the while, father Ginger, who played for Ireland, looked on from the North Stand, surrounded by other members of the family, mother Camilla and sister Ciara.
The boys learned their cricket from watching dad and his mates at the Railway Union Club in Sandymount, one of the most powerful clubs in Leinster cricket. They both credit club stalwart Brian Connelly as doing tireless work on their behalf over the years. "He used to run underage cricket teams and practice every Saturday and Sunday mornings, there were so many people helping out."
Last year, when Railway Union won the All-Ireland cricket final, six of the 11 on the team played together for the club's under-11 side. A sign, says Niall, of the strength of the club. They are ready for the next few weeks of international cricket where they play the best sides in the world. And once it is all over, their paths will diverge. Niall goes to kick-start his professional career with Northants, following his release by Kent. Kevin's imagination has been fired by being around the professional world of sport and is thinking of a course in sports marketing. "He wants to be an agent," says Niall.
Jerry Maguire watch out.
Heading for the Super Eights ...
Ireland v West Indies
Today, 2.30, Sabina Park (Sky Sports 1)
Ireland coach Adrian Birrell has warned the West Indies that his side will be looking to repeat their stunning success over Pakistan when the sides meet at Sabina Park today in the final Group D match.
Birrell's team pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the tournament's history when they completed a three-wicket victory over Pakistan, who they ousted from the competition in the process and although Ireland and the West Indies are guaranteed a spot in the Super Eight stage they are now doing battle for bonus points to carry through to that round.
Birrell has already targeted areas his side can improve but said: "I think we can give a good performance against West Indies. Obviously, it will be tough, but we have gained some momentum, and we relish this opportunity to test ourselves against them."
Bennett King, Birrell's West Indies counterpart, is also refusing to take the fixture lightly despite the fact that both sides are through.
"We will treat it like a Super Eight game and it is going to be very important for us, since we want to go through in the number one position and carry the two points through to the next stage."
