KEVIN O’BRIEN LOVED every minute of his Caribbean adventure — and he can’t wait to get back for more.
Ireland’s vice-captain is set for another stint in the Caribbean Premier League this summer after he was re-signed by Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.
Before that, the Railway Union all-rounder returns to Surrey for another short stint in the Natwest T20 Blast which begins on Friday night.
“It was a great experience for me last year to play in the first CPL with Trinidad and Tobago,” O’Brien said in an exclusive interview with The Slog Sweep, a new weekly Irish cricket podcast.
It was a great tournament with nearly 30,000 at every game and the Calypso atmosphere, music, and a few drinks here and there. It’s the way cricket should be played.
O’Brien rubbed shoulders with some of cricket’s most famous names in the Caribbean — and even went partying in the spectacular seafront home of West Indies legend Chris Gayle.
“We finished up the group stages against Jamaica Tallawahs in Sabina Park. Obviously Chris and [Trinidad captain] Dwayne Bravo get on very well, they’re friends and team-mates with the West Indies.
Chris put on a little house party for both teams and some of his closer friends. There was probably about 150, 200 people there – 15 chefs, a pool, dancefloor, pool table, everything.
“It was just a fantastic experience to be in his house. It’s a pretty good house overlooking the Jamaican Islands. It was fantastic.
“To be fair, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” he joked. “I’d much rather be down in Railway rolling the wicket on a Friday night!”
Click here to listen to the inaugural episode of The Slog Sweep, hosted by Mark Robinson and Andrew Leonard.
Other features include the first visit to ‘Club Corner’, where Terry Bruton from Ireland’s newest cricket club Ashbourne CC, popped into the studio for an amazing chat about how to found a cricket club.
Also discussed is a weekly round-up from the major leagues across the country, the ‘Performance of the Week’, the O’Neills Team of the Week, the #AlmostCricketLegend and much, much more.
I thought the same thing at the time. Here’s our greatest rugby athlete being let down by the medical staff at the very end of his career (pre one more year). Why there wasnt a bigger outcry and inquiry at the time baffled me. Glad it’s now being centre staged. The medics have questions to answer
I agree completely , unfortunately people are selfish and just want him to continue playing as the man is so important to us. Somebody should have sat the man down and protected him. He has hopefully 40 plus years to live his life and he needs to remember that rugby ain’t everything.
the old saying rings true, ‘nobody shoots a winning race horse’
I imagine the medical staff are under severe pressure to get him back in. Strange decision – the irfu have a fantastic medical team as witnessed by the use of Dr. Falvey with the lions.
Have to admit- on most other things related to rugby I think the use of slow motion constant replays have made things that are quite innocuous look very serious. On this matter this guy is spot on, any brain injury needs the most time to recover- I love the game and selfishly I want him to come back on the field but the best thing for a concussed player is rarely considered in urgent situations. The More debate and awareness of this issue the better, we need to protect guys like these bravery from themselves.
I’m with you, Richard!
Nowinski is a top bloke. He’s done a lot of work to help reducw head trauma and concussions in pro wrestling and other contact sports
Well fair play to him getting involved in rugby.
I agree this guy stepped up after concussion put an end to his pro wrestling career… He had done an epic amount of work in regards to head trauma in sports…. Something that has to be taken more serious here….. As usual Ireland will not act until it takes a life…
I worry about BOD. He is so committed on the field and I hope he doesn’t end up with some long term injury at this stage of his career.
I remember the incident and was equelly amazed that BOD was allowed back on the field,he was very groggy and and unsteady on his feet,and i remember thinking that he must have bypassed the physio and had the final say,but for anyone watching,they just knew that it defied logic to see him back on with his head bandaged, but thats our Brian.
Agree 100 percent ..the hits in the game these days are scary, all players need to be protected and Bod is a national treasure ;)
In light of what we now know regarding knocks to the head and the potential risk of concussion, i think it is incumbent on sports managers to be fully versed on the danger associated with such incidents. Questions have to be asked as to the role of the medical team (or doctor) regarding a player who has suffered a concussion,or a severe head injury being allowed back onto the field of play in such a state.
In such scenario as outlined above, it is much better to err on the side of caution in order to avoid the potential for brain damage to occur and the long term implications that such injuries entail
There has been far too much talk and no action on the concussion issue. Why are the IRFU refusing to comment. The recent Falvey interview was complacency at its worst. Surely there is enough evidence now to warrant some official reaction either by John Treacy becoming involved or The Department of Health arranging proper investigation.