Journeymen no more

Ireland's mostly homegrown World Cup squad is also their first full-pro side in 150 years. They have plenty of backing for their progress - except from the people who really matte.

"I have one brother on the team, but 13 more wearing green here in India," said Niall O'Brien.

"We'd die for each other," said John Mooney. "These are my blood brothers."

It is no coincidence that these passionate calls to arms came from those two men. The Mooneys and O'Briens are Irish cricketing gentry, families whose names have adorned club and representative teams for decades. They exemplify the new Irish attitude - skill, aggression, and a passionate belief that their team has every right to be at cricket's top table.

They best showed that at this tournament with their ground fielding, which matched that of any other side in the world. Two stunning run-outs by Mooney and William Porterfield starkly illustrated the Irish approach to this competition - and the difference between them and other Associates.

Just before the tournament, the ICC granted an extra paid place in the official touring party to the so-called minnows. One of the other nations brought along an assistant manager, spending valuable resources on yet another time-served "blazer". Ireland hired top baseball coach Will Lintern to help sharpen their fielding and bring imaginative ideas to this crucial area. It paid off spectacularly and ground fielding became the one area Ireland were able to dominate every opponent. The inch-perfect run-outs of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis were a clear sign of how Ireland maximised their resources. Alan Lewis, a retired allrounder with 115 caps, and now better known as a rugby referee, watched the win over England in Bangalore. "I've been overwhelmed with the spirit, the togetherness and just how good they are. They're just playing their own way, they're doing their own thing."

It was an approach that started with the appointment of Adrian Birrell in 2004. The former Eastern Province coach was fortunate that Ireland's economic boom had brought many young men from the southern hemisphere to Dublin, and several of them were fine cricketers. Four stayed, married Irish women, and by 2007 were key members of the Ireland team.

CRICINFO