HE'S chuffed to be back in the Irish squad for the RSA Challenge against Australia, but Niall O'Brien isn't quite on his best behaviour. On Sunday he was at his cheeky finest for the Sky Sports cameras when Northants took on Somerset.
Not that he needed much encouragement, as it was his little brother Kevin who stood two yards in front of him at the wicket. "Dad didn't like you anyway", he chirped.
His most cutting sledges involved references to Kevin having ordered extra chips when the pair ate together the night before. And as Kevin has lost two stone since Christmas that would have hurt.
"It was all good fun", said Niall, who hopes his rehabilitation will be complete by earning a place in the Irish side on Saturday. Nobby is upbeat about Ireland's hopes too.
"We have a real chance. It's essentially the Aussies' first game on the tour, and on our patch we could beat them. Getting recalled has given me a real boost and an incentive to keep going."
O'Brien first faced the Aussies during the 2007 World Cup when he was bowled first ball by the pacy Shaun Tait.Two years ago at Clontarf he made 15 as Ireland ran the World Champions close.
"We gave ourselves a really good chance that day, but it wasn't to be."
O'Brien was carrying an injury that day, which meant he didn't take the gloves. Undaunted, he held three catches in the outfield – all off his brother. With Phil Simmons adamant that Gary Wilson has possession of the gauntlets, Niall will be hoping a few more chances come his way on Saturday.
IF TWO weeks in the sweltering heat of Sri Lanka isn't enough for them, two Irish players are planning an even more grueling post-tournament outing. Gary Wilson and William Porterfield are planning to cycle from Cork to Belfast, via Kilkenny, Dublin, Armagh and Derry, in October. Gary's mother Irish passed away in April after a battle with lung cancer and Irish Cricket's Big Bike Ride will raise funds in her memory for cancer research. More details from welivecricket.com/bigbikeride.
EXACTLY 100 years ago Sir Stanley Cochrane (of C&C fame, and fortune) hosted the Australians at his own cricket ground at Woodbrook, outside Bray. To encourage spectators, he built his own train station, which, like the ground, is long closed. Irish Rail hasn't felt the need to bring the Dublin-Belfast line out to Stormont, but will still be running its first Cricket Special on Saturday. Details from irishrail.ie.
THE Irish women's team is also taking on the World's No.1 side on Saturday when they take on England at Loughborough. Its part of a testing three-day tour which also includes games against the England Academy (Friday) and India (Sunday).
Performance of the Week: Brían O'Rourke, organiser of the Leprechaun Cup. Two primary schools, Castleknock NS and Star of the Sea Sandymount (alma mater of the O'Brien brothers) have battled into the final for the first time, which takes place tomorrow at noon in Pembroke CC.
Tweets of the Week: Ruth-Anne Kilty (@rkilty) has been tweeting cheeky comments to various Irish cricketers as they appear on Sky Sports lately: "I hope @KevinOBrien113 is wearing sunscreen!! #fracne #freckles" and "I'm liking @georgedockrell new hairstyle..." #combover #rockinit