From past legends of the game to Ireland’s current crop, we look at ten of the best Irish cricket players of all time.
Cricket has been played in Ireland since the 19th century, but it has never enjoyed the popularity of native sports like Gaelic football and hurling or other international sports like association football and rugby.
But cricket has seen a rise in popularity in Ireland in recent years, coinciding with a period of relative success for the country’s international team.
With that in mind, we look at ten of the best Irish cricket players of all time.
- From past legends of the game to Ireland’s current crop, we look at ten of the best Irish cricket players of all time.
- 10. Andre Botha – from Johannesburg to Clontarf
- 9. Andrew Balbirnie – Ireland’s current captain
- 8. Ed Joyce – two different countries at consecutive World Cups
- 7. John Mooney – one of Ireland’s first full-time players
- 6. Niall O’Brien – from cricketing stock
- 5. Kyle McCallan – an impressive all-rounder
- 4. George Dockrell – spotted practising in the car park
- 3. Gary Wilson – player-turned-coach
- 2. Paul Stirling – one of the best Irish cricket players of all time
- 1. William Porterfield – from the small town to the big stage
10. Andre Botha – from Johannesburg to Clontarf
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1975, Andre Botha made a name for himself at Clontarf Cricket Club in Leinster. He became eligible to play for Ireland in 2001 and represented the country 141 times.
Before his retirement in 2011, Botha scored 3,606 runs and took 176 wickets.
9. Andrew Balbirnie – Ireland’s current captain
Dublin-born Andrew Balbirnie is the current captain of the Irish men’s cricket team. He had already made a name for himself as one of the country’s best batsmen before he was made captain in 2019.
Balbirnie enjoyed one of his most memorable innings in Irish colours in August 2020 – a run-a-ball 113 in a seven-wicket ODI against England. He almost repeated the feat a year later, scoring 112 in Ireland’s first-ever win against South Africa.
8. Ed Joyce – two different countries at consecutive World Cups
Though he started his international career with England, Ed Joyce is regarded as one of the best Irish cricket players of all time. He began playing for the country of his birth in 2011 after consistently struggling to make the England squad.
He is remembered in cricket circles for playing for two different countries at consecutive World Cups: England in 2007 and Ireland in 2011.
7. John Mooney – one of Ireland’s first full-time players
John Mooney represented Ireland from 2004 until his retirement in 2015. He was named Ireland Player of the Year for 2010. 2010 also saw Mooney become one of the first Irish players to earn a full-time contract.
His most memorable moment for Ireland came as he struck the winning runs for the team during their memorable victory over England at the 2011 World Cup.
6. Niall O’Brien – from cricketing stock
Son of former Irish cricket player Brendan O’Brien, Niall O’Brien played for Ireland between 2005 and 2018.
In addition to representing Ireland in international and test cricket, O’Brien had a successful club career playing for Kent, Northamptonshire, Khulna Royal Bengals, Rangpur Riders, Leicestershire, and North West Warriors.
5. Kyle McCallan – an impressive all-rounder
William McCallan – better known by his middle name, Kyle – was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, in 1975. He is one of the Irish cricket team’s record appearance-makers.
An impressive all-rounder, McCallan was equally adept with the bat or the ball in his right hand.
4. George Dockrell – spotted practising in the car park
George Dockrell attracted attention from English clubs as a teenager and made the move to Somerset in 2010. He also began playing for Ireland that same year and has been an important part of the team ever since.
Dockrell was given his Ireland debut after then-coach Brian O’Rourke spotted him practising his bowling in a car park during an Ireland age-group tour of Wales.
3. Gary Wilson – player-turned-coach
Wicketkeeper and righthanded batsman Gary Wilson was born in Dundonald, just outside Belfast, in 1986. He made his debut for Ireland in 2005 and went on to become one of the country’s most-capped players.
Wilson retired in 2021 and now works as a coach in Ireland’s inter-provincial system.
2. Paul Stirling – one of the best Irish cricket players of all time
Belfast’s Paul Stirling is the current opening batsman for Ireland. He is undoubtedly one of the best Irish cricket players of all time.
At a young age, he had already hit two ODI centuries against cricketing stalwarts Pakistan. He is revered for his seemingly effortless bowling and has enjoyed a successful career that has taken him around the world.
1. William Porterfield – from the small town to the big stage
William Porterfield hails from the small County Tyrone town of Donemana, but went on to make a big name for himself in a cricketing career that spanned 16 years from 2006 to 2022. He was virtually ever-present during the exponential growth of Irish cricket.
Porterfield was appointed Ireland captain during the 2008 season and went on to lead the team at the 2011 World Cup.
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