THE selection of Merrion captain John Anderson for next week's Intercontinental Cup game against Afghanistan came as no surprise to anyone who has watched Leinster cricket over the past seven or eight seasons.
The 29-year-old has been one of the province's leading all-rounders since he arrived here from Durban.
"I realised I was on the radar last summer when I was selected for the A team to play Hampshire, although I couldn't travel," he told Inside Edge,
"I played all four games for the A team this year, and Phil Simmons said good things after each of the games so I was hopeful."
Anderson actually has one first-class game under his belt already - almost a decade ago!
"It was a bit controversial," he recalls. "The coach and captain of the Natal Dolphins wanted me in the team but the president called for me to step down."
Anderson had been caught up in the same debate over non-white quotas that drove Kevin Pietersen into the arms of England.
"It went over my head a bit," he admits.
Anderson was 20, and in the first of a two-year rookie contract with Kwazulu-Natal. Lining up alongside Lance Klusener and Hashim Amla, he took 1-94 with his leg breaks and wasn't picked again.
"A year or two later I was playing state B team and I knew I wouldn't get another shot. But I loved cricket and wanted to travel so I had two seasons in Leeds."
In 2005 he arrived in Dublin Airport and was immediately whisked to Rush to oversee Railway Union's U11 girls.
"I had two good years at Railway, and then went home to finish off my accountancy qualifications."
He had enjoyed Ireland though, and decided to come back.
"It was easier to get a job then, and I suppose I'm lucky to still have one. But as long as that's the case I'll stay as long as I can."
Anderson joined Merrion, where there were romantic ties, and has helped that club to regain its position as one of the best in the province.
"We have 11 players who can contribute, and even if Dom, the pro or I fail then we know there'll be someone else to pick up the baton. We've a policy of putting young players forward all through the club, and last year we brought Tyrone Kane and Patrick Tice into the team. By the end of the season they were first choices, and Tyrone was man of the match in the Leinster cup final."
Both Kane and Tice were named in the Ireland U19 squad for this week's games in Scotland. And now their skipper joins them in the representative fold, with a shamrock on his cap where a protea might have been.
SAD to see Ballyeighan CC drop out of the Leinster league. The club, on the Offaly/Tipperary border, has produced some excellent players over the years, none more than Ireland fast bowler Allan Eastwood. The south will rise again.
Tweet of the week: new Ireland squad member Stuart Thompson "(@SRThompson) 'can I get the avocado and bacon without the bacon' another classic from @georgedockrell #booksmart #thickas"
Performance of the week: Nitin Sharma of Leinster 3rds, who took 6-17 to bowl out the previously unbeaten Clontarf 3rds for 36.