Full Name Niall John OBrien Born ( 1981-11-08 ) 8 November 1981 (age 43)
Birth Place Dublin, Ireland Role Wicketkeeper/Batsman Name Niall OBrien Parents Brendan OBrien Siblings Kevin OBrien , Ciara OBrien | Nickname Paddy National team
Ireland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Batting style Left handed Education Marian College | |
Current teams Ireland cricket team (#72 / Batsman, Wicket-keeper), Leicestershire County Cricket Club | ||
| Competition | ODI | T20I | FC | LA |
| Matches | 58 | 21 | 126 | 164 |
| Runs scored | 1,469 | 362 | 6,232 | 3,743 |
| Batting average | 28.25 | 19.05 | 35.61 | 29.70 |
| 100s/50s | 0/11 | 0/1 | 12/29 | 2/24 |
| Top score | 72 | 50 | 182 | 121 |
| Balls bowled | – | – | 18 | – |
| Wickets | – | – | 2 | – |
| Bowling average | – | – | 9.50 | – |
| 5 wickets in innings | – | – | 0 | – |
| 10 wickets in match | n/a | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Best bowling | – | – | 1/4 | – |
| Catches/stumpings | 39/7 | 12/8 | 329/36 | 134/32 |
Niall John OBrien (born 8 November 1981 in Dublin) is an Ireland cricketer educated at Marian College, Ballsbridge. He is a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. Domestically OBrien began his professional career with Kent in 2004 before joining Northamptonshire at the start of 2007, spending 6 seasons there before joining Leicestershire for 2013. He made his One Day International debut for Ireland in 2006; two years later he played his first Twenty20 International. OBrien has also played in overseas twenty20 leagues, first the Indian Cricket League in 2008 and then the Bangladesh Premier League on its formation in 2012. His brother, Kevin, plays alongside him in the Ireland team while his father, Brendan, played cricket for Ireland from 1966 to 1981
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Personal life and education
OBrien was educated in Marian College, Ballsbridge. His brother Kevin is also a member of the Ireland team. Their father Brendan played 52 times for Ireland. His sister Ciara OBrien is in the Ireland womens hockey team.
Career
Niall first gained recognition playing domestic cricket in Leinster for the Railway Union Cricket Club earning a call up to the Ireland A team. From there he established himself as Irelands number one wicketkeeper. OBrien himself has said that he has a fiery temperament. On 17 June 2004, he angered Brian Lara when Lara refused to walk after being apparently caught behind. Ireland caused an upset when they went on to win the match, with OBrien scoring 58* off 57 balls. In 2006 he was banned for one ICC Intercontinental Cup match after an outburst criticising the groundsman at an Intercontinental Cup game with Scotland because of condition of the pitch.
OBrien has spent many an Australian summer playing for Mosman Cricket Club in the Sydney Grade Cricket competition. OBrien also assumed a part-time coaching role while at the club and considers the time spent in Australia as some of the most vital parts of his career. He also played two seasons of first grade for North Sydney in the Sydney Grade Competition in 2003/04 and 2005/06. He also played a season with the Mosman club as an 18-year old.