Hard-hitting Irishman returns to the Red Steel with high hopes
Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday 3rd June 2014 -- Kevin O’Brien is back for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League 2014 and he is coming with high expectations. After helping the Red Steel to reach the semi-finals in the inaugural season in 2013, he is aiming to go all the way this year.
The 2014 edition of the Caribbean Premier League will be back in just under six weeks when the Caribbean will once again light up for this thrilling party atmosphere across 30 exciting matches.
“I am very excited to be back in the Caribbean and happy that the Red Steel re-signed me,” the Dublin-born cricketer said, “As well as looking forward to linking up with the Red Steel team again, I’m also looking forward to meeting the new players.”
The CPL will add two new locations to this season’s event with the Spice Isle, Grenada hosting the opening games and St. Kitts and Nevis the closing round. Kevin (who also runs his own cricket academy based in Dublin) says; “CPL is going from strength to strength and the addition of new venues will definitely add to the brand image, so I am really excited to be a part of it, and I’m especially looking forward to the opening set of games in Grenada.”
Other changes this year include each team playing two more league games which the 2013 Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year thinks is great news; “It gives us (Red Steel) an opportunity to gel more and develop our team chemistry. I am familiar with some of the new players in the squad, like Jamshed who I faced when we (Ireland) played Pakistan and also Kennar Lewis of Jamaica who I came across in the Nagico Super50 a few months ago.”
On this year’s competition, O’Brien (who scored the fastest century in Cricket World Cup history) says; “The Tallawahs and Amazon Warriors remain the favourites but each team in this season’s CPL has at least two to three match winners, so it is going to be interesting. Gayle, Russell, Narine, Santokie – these are just a few of the players who can make a huge impact this season, they’re all quality cricketers.”
Having always had a desire to play cricket professionally, playing in the 2004 U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh was a “great learning curve”, helping him to develop the fundamentals of the game. During that tournament, he helped the Ireland U-19 team by scoring 241 runs seeing Ireland through to the Plate Semi-Finals before being defeated by Australia. “That tournament was great exposure for me and it gave me good momentum to improve in the game.”
Growing up learning about cricket, the 30 year-old hard–hitting, all-rounder looked to Shaun Pollock of South Africa and Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff of England. He explains; “Shaun Pollock and Freddie Flintoff were players I always admired, they played with composure and skill and I have always wanted to emulate those qualities.”
Kevin has played in two Cricket World Cups and three World T20 Championships for Ireland so undoubtedly he carries a wealth of experience, knowledge and technical ability. “The 2007 Cricket World Cup for me holds special memories of course. It was fantastic, especially when we were in Jamaica and we qualified for the Super 8’s.” Kevin O’Brien also bowled a maiden wicket over in the penultimate over of the game against Zimbabwe showing nerves of steel. Laughing about the moment, he said; “Trent Johnston had a word with me and I just remained focused and executed my best effort”.
Kevin O’Brien will come to the Caribbean in early July to meet up with the team and begin preparation for CPL 2014. “I am with Surrey now in England, but on July 5th, I will head out to the Caribbean and join up with Red Steel. I can’t wait.”
So it’s all eyes on the Irishman this year as the tournament gets underway in mid-July.
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