“IT’S typical of Cusy isn’t”, said one Ireland team-mate.
The retirement of Alex Cusack was no great surprise, but its timing probably was.
The Clontarf all-rounder has had a hard couple of years as his body started showing signs of wear and tear.
But surely he would give it one more go at the T20 World Cup in India, or at least finish off with a home ODI against the land of his birth?
No, and in a typically modest way he has called it a day after 174 caps.
"It has been a great honour to play for Ireland with such a great bunch of lads and I wish them all the best in the years ahead," was has farewell, and no-one will begrudge him time with his young family.
His contribution to some of Ireland’s greatest victories is his testament.
“Cusy was fantastic”, remembers Kevin O’Brien of his innings in Bangalore. “He ran for everything and gave me plenty of strike.”
While O’Brien made headlines for his 113, he acknowledged it might never have happened had Cusack not been making 47 at the other end.
The pair put on 162 and the Tarf man sacrificed his wicket to allow O’Brien to keep going and ensure victory over England.
Cusack and his lethal slower balls also played a crucial role in the win over Zimbabwe at the recent World Cup.
He had been called up to replace Max Sorensen and fully justified Phil Simmons’s call.
Kevin O’Brien had been hit for 19 off the 49th over leaving Zimbabwe just six to win.
But Cusack bowled Regis Chakabva first ball and then had Tawanda Mupariwa caught to end with 9.3-2-32-4.
“Alex Cusack has a cool head, I'm glad he was the one bowling that last over,” said man of the match Ed Joyce.
And with the coolest of heads, Cusack now walks away. He will be sorely missed, especially in the T20 format where he is still a top performer, but after the service he has given he deserves his rest.
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There’s a huge test for the Ireland Women today when Australia come for the first of three T20s at Claremont Road.
Kim Garth’s side are up against the side dominating the Ashes series but are confident they can be competitive. At the weekend they hammered table-toppers Yorkshire, a fifth win in the English T20 tournament.
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Ex-Ireland captain Angus Dunlop can still hit a big ball. On Saturday the 48-year-old smashed four 6s and three 4s off an over by Leinster’s Finn Conaty, who also bowled a no-ball.
The 37 pips Waringstown’s Ruan Pretorious who hit six 6s against Clontarf in June.
And in the week the Aussies are here, it also beats the five 6s and a 2 hit by Allan Border against Ireland in 1993, when the bowler was… Angus Dunlop!
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If Carlsberg did weekends then Merrion has just had one. On Friday night they won the T20 Cup and next day won a vital league game against YMCA by one wicket thanks to a brilliant 73 by Dom Joyce.
Sunday saw them into the Irish Senior Cup final after dismantling CSNI with an unbroken 140 stand by Robin Smith (88*) and John Anderson (63*).
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John Martin was a talented horse racing and soccer writer but, as far as anyone recalls, had no interest in cricket. But in a typically puckish move the Soccer Writers of Ireland will stage the second annual memorial match against Paddy Power in Merrion on Tuesday in honour of the much-loved reporter.
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Pop along to Pembroke after 5pm on Saturday and join their Guinness Book of Records bid for most people doing cricket keepy-uppys. All welcome, details from cricketwra.com
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FIXTURES
Thursday: Leinster Div1: Merrion v Malahide 6.0
Friday: Women’s T20: Ireland v Australia, Claremont Road 4.30; Leinster Div1: Terenure v Rush
Saturday: Women’s T20: Ireland v Australia, Claremont Road 12.0; Leinster Div1, 12.30: Clontarf v YMCA, Merrion v Cork Co, North Co v Railway, Pembroke v Malahide; Div2: Phoenix v Leinster, Balbriggan v Hills
Sunday: Leinster Div1, 12.30: Pembroke v Clontarf
Tuesday: John Martin Memorial Match: Dublin Media XI v Paddy Power, Anglesea Road 6.0