Most capped Irish cricketer Kevin Obrien retires from international cricket

Irish sport’s most capped international team sportsperson, Kevin O’Brien, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The Dubliner finishes his international career with 389 caps and a career that spanned 16 years playing for Ireland.

O’Brien, 38, debuted for Ireland in 2006, playing three Tests, 153 One-Day Internationals and 110 T20 Internationals amongst his appearances for the Men in Green.

A true all-rounder, he finished with:

• 9,048 runs for Ireland at 27.84, and a highest score of 171* against Kenya in 2008
• 276 wickets for Ireland at 28.23, and a best bowling of 5-39 against Canada in 2010
• 181 catches for Ireland

O’Brien is one of only 20 international cricketers in the history of the sport (men and women) to have registered an international century in all three formats of the game.

While his career highlights are too numerous to list, some of his most memorable moments for Ireland included:

• 118 on Test debut against Pakistan during Ireland Men’s inaugural Test (Malahide, 2018)
• Striking the fastest-ever 50-over World Cup century against England (off 50 balls) at the 2011 Cricket World Cup (Bangalore, 2011)

In his retirement statement, O’Brien indicated that growing his Academy and moving more into coaching was his next step, and the whole Irish cricket community wishes him well and acknowledges Kevin as a true great of Irish cricket.

In addition to his long international career, O’Brien played county cricket in England for numerous county sides, featured in a number of T20 franchise tournaments around the world and had an extensive and successful domestic cricket career in Ireland

Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland Men’s captain, said: “I was very lucky to play with not only one of Ireland’s greatest sportspeople, but also a very good friend who was always there to support me from my first cap to when I became captain. Cricket in this country owes a lot to what Kev achieved on and off the field and has left the game in a better place. Everyone in the team wishes nothing but the best going forward for Kev in his coaching career.”