Derryman with a love for cricket

It sounds like a highly unlikely scenario, but apparently Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness loves cricket.

According to the man himself, he was intrigued by the battle between bowler and batsman, and became interested in the different techniques and strategies used.

Interviewed in the Guardian on the subject, McGuinness said, living in GAA-mad Derry, he was alone in his love for cricket and caught up with it on late night TV highlights.

“The closest I got to playing cricket was rounders. There was a very large field at the top of our street and we used to play there.”

The North’s deputy first minister believes Irish cricket is on the up and praised the fine crop of players who have been “doing a fantastic job for all of us”.

He recalled the day when Ireland beat Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup and revealed how the team gave him one of the ties worn at the tournament when they returned.

More recently, he expressed delight that Cricket Ireland, announced plans to bring test cricket to the country, saying he hoped this would stop cricketers emigrating to England and increase participation levels.

“People say it’s mostly Protestants who take an interest in cricket but I don’t think that’s the case. All over the North we have people from the Catholic tradition who also play and I have to say, I am very proud of that,” he said.