Friday April 20, 2007 5:17 PM

One Heart, One Love. (Barry Chambers)

Our Super 8 campaign had been a mixed bag, decent performances against England and South Africa followed by a disappointing batting performance against New Zealand, leading to defeat. We were so keen to put on a show for the hundreds of supporters who had continued to follow us around the Caribbean and for those that travelled out to experience the atmosphere for the first time. Beautiful Barbados is steeped in cricket history but we wanted a piece for ourselves.

Friday 13th April was certainly not unlucky for the mighty Australia as they showed why they are going for their third successive World Cup triumph. We went into the biggest game in the history of Irish cricket in determined mood, knowing full well that we were playing against some of the greatest of all time.

I was feeling fairly relaxed considering the magnitude of the game in front of a big crowd and in the magnificent Kensington Oval setting. The stands are named after West Indian legends and you could sense the history despite the stadium being rebuilt.

We had to contend with Matthew Tait bowling his 90mph plus deliveries and at the other end Glenn McGrath, one of those greats, so it was far from comfortable. It was even more so for me as I took a blow on the head from a McGrath delivery. It left me slightly concussed for over a day but we as a team were hurting more from a heavy defeat at the hands of the ultimate professionals. I thought about the game in my room that night trying to come to terms with the sheer class and intensity and how the best in the world operate day in and day out.

Many would have thought being bowled out for 91 and losing by 9 wickets to Australia would have left us demoralised and deflated but we have come back from defeat in emphatic fashion before. We did it again, but doing it on the world stage was even more satisfying as we outplayed Bangladesh in every department. This was a massive win as it puts us in with the elite as the 12th best side in the world. The game was played in front of our biggest crowd to date and the atmosphere superb as there is no doubting that the Irish don’t need a second opportunity to party. After the game as darkness fell and the players shared thoughts two and a half hours later in the dressing rooms, I walked onto the playing arena again. I was met in the middle by the groundsman who said ‘you are part of history man; you Irish are special to me, one heart, one love’!! Obviously a Bob Marley fan!

What more can we say about our supporters? They have been truly remarkable and for those that missed the Jamaican experience it was great to give them a taste of an Ireland World Cup victory. The leading lights of the famous Barmy Army, here to support England, gave those in the Greenidge/Haynes stand a helping hand and when Indian supporters are getting their shirts signed by Ireland players you realise what an impact we continue to have.

Our coach, Adrian Birrell, will complete his last days work with the shamrock on his chest on Wednesday (yesterday) as we play our final game against Sri Lanka. Words cannot describe the impact he has had on Irish cricket.

One last effort for country and coach to finish.


Til Next Time


Andrew

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