It took over my whole thinking and I don't think that's healthy in the long-term." Birrell told the ICU this time last year that he would step down after the World Cup and was as good as his word, doing so on the team's return in April after reaching the Super Eights.

"I'm glad I did what I did, I was due a big break", he said, "but I miss the cameraderie, I miss the guys."

Birrell (pictured) has gone along on a couple of social visits to Ireland games, keeping well out of the way and allowing his successor Phil Simmons the space he deserves. "I've watched very little live cricket", he admits, "but I've watched a bit on the box."

Birrell has taken a step back to allow his wife Susan develop her career in accountancy, but has kept his hand in with cricket coaching at the education level, helping the ECB develop a fielding module.

"I've been doing some motivational speaking to organisations and businesses and I'm hoping to develop that, " he said. "It leans on my experiences with teams and of course the World Cup. Its very enjoyable."

Businesses interested in hearing the story of how this remarkable man planned and executed Ireland's assault on the upper echelons of the world of cricket can contact him on 087-6623826 or email adrian. birrell@gmail. com BIRRELL's team were beaten by a whisker to the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award at the ceremony in Johannesburg on Monday night. Captain Trent Johnston was invited to attend and represented his team at the glittering event, but was disappointed that he, and all of his teammates, were unaccountably left off the shortlist for the Associates Player of the Year behind two Kenyans, a Canadian and a Dutchman.

The snubbing of the only associate team to reach the Super Eights, and the Intercontinental Cup winners, is a mystery that deepens further. Inside Edge has seen a letter from ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed which says "it gives me great pleasure to let you know. . . that one of the Irish players, Trent Johnston, is a strong contender for this year's ICC Associate Player of the Year award. Given the fact that Trent is in the final shakeup for the prize, I would like to invite him to attend the function in person."

The Ireland captain was more than surprised to read on a website before he flew out that not only was he not "a strong contender" but wasn't even short-listed.

A consolation is that he has narrowed the gap to 2% in the www. cricket europe. com player of the year poll after the Dutch union canvassed for their man.

There's still time to log on and vote!

ANOTHER of those who should have been on the stage in Johannesburg, Niall O'Brien, has a busy time ahead of him as the English season draws to a close. His timely maiden century for Northamptonshire has encouraged the county to offer him another contract, while he also considers what's on the table at Warwickshire. A nice position to be in after a mid-season spell in the doldrums.

One way or the other, Niall will be facing his old Irish team-mates in the 2008 Friends Provident Trophy. Both Northants and Warwickshire are in Ireland's group in a new format which also includes Notts and Leicestershire in the East Midlands group. Ireland will play each of the counties home and away.

THERE is at least one man with Irish cricket connections at the Twenty20 World Cup currently taking place in South Africa. The event is the first since Dr Ahsan Malik was appointed to Director of Communications of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the former Galwaybased doctor is enjoying it immensely. "I worked in Ireland 12 years ago", he told Inside Edge from Durban this weekend.

"I spent some time in Dublin at the Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, and also worked in the University College Galway Hospital. I have very fond memories of my time there.

Ahsan played social cricket in Galway and recalls a fellow medic, Dr Mahmoud, as being an excellent left-arm bowler who played club cricket in the city. "Whenever I am in London I always make a point of visiting my old friends in Dublin, " he said, "And I noticed how much it has changed since I was there."

Ahsan retired from medical practice in the late 1990s and did a masters in business administration. His career in marketing has now taken him to the PCB. He was in Pakistan when his native land were humbled last St Patrick's Day. "I was very surprised and disappointed", he admits. "It was one of the greatest upsets in sporting history."

THE Cover Point website and magazine is due to be launched at the end of the month and promises to be an excellent addition to the scene. Editor Liam Rooney has been tirelessly working on the project and it will cause a few waves when it is published. He promises articles on 'the scandal over cricket's global finances which is threatening Ireland's development', 'The Best Cricketer Never to play for Ireland' as well as interviews, women's cricket, competitions and much more besides. The magazine will cost 3.85 (�2.60) and further details can be had from editor@cover-point. com