Ace coach Adi Birrell still keeping an eye out for Ireland at Cricket World Cup

When Ireland attempt to make it three wins from three Cricket World Cup games against South Africa in the early hours of tomorrow morning (3.30am Irish time), they will come across a man who did much to lift Ireland to their position today.

Now South Africa’s assistant coach, Adi Birrell is preparing the Proteas for an Ireland side unrecognisable from the one he took over in 2002.

On his first day as Ireland coach, Birrell was handed the keys to a car, and given a glimpse of the challenge he faced: “I fast realised that there wasn’t an office. My office was my lounge and the store room was the boot of the car,” he reflects.