Destination reached, Ireland coach heads home

8220;I have been a team coach for the last 20 years. My road as team coach has ended and I hope to continue to coaching at academy and junior level. I will be staying in Ireland for a few years before I go home to Port Elizabeth,8221; he says.

The man who scripted the fairytale Irish story about a bunch of amateurs who caused the biggest upset of the World Cup isn8217;t reluctant to walk into obscurity after the brief stay in the spotlight. Just after the win against Pakistan last month, the 47-year-old spoke about finally tasting big-time success after long years spent working at the grassroots level. But the biggest spike of his coaching career hasn8217;t made him averse to taking up a more down to earth assignment.

Those who know Addy well aren8217;t quite surprised with the decision of the maverick coach. Former South African batsman Daryl Cullinan knows Birrell since their playing days when both were students.

8220;He was a very good cricketer, who used to bowl leg-spin and bat in the middle order. He played for Eastern Province and later coached the same team. He developed a very young side into one of the top teams in the country. Guys like Justin Kemp and Ashley Prince were part of this team. But suddenly this opportunity came in Ireland and he left,8221; he says about the coach who seems to believe in taking a team on the path of success, accompanying them all through but parts ways when they reach the destination.

Talking about the tough journey, Birrell says that the change of culture and alien system was his biggest challenge in Ireland. 8220;It was a big change for me. I came from a very professional background and in Ireland it was an amateur set-up.

8220;The fixtures look like playing against teams like Denmark, Free Foresters, Duchess of Norfolk, MCC8230; It was a friendly type of cricket. But we developed and today our itinerary looks like playing South Africa, New Zealand, Australia8230;8221; he says.

Cullinan helps one understand Birrell8217;s working style. 8220;He is a hard working guy and a dedicated coach. Since most of the players had day jobs he met them before work, during lunch hour and after work. He spent weekends with them in an effort to improve them,8221; he said.

Typically, the modest coach gives credit to the players and doesn8217;t even think that the amateur set-up made things difficult for him. 8220;The players8217; made big sacrifices. They diligently spent their evenings and weekends on their fitness. If you look at the number hours they spent on fitness and cricket, it wouldn8217;t be much different from the pros,8221; says the proud coach.

Though Birrell will hand over the charge of the Irish team to the former West Indian opener Phil Simmons after the World Cup, the trip to West Indies has given him a CV that many would like to be posted to them. Cullinan gives an idea about the most-talked about coach8217;s new status in world cricket when he says, 8220;South African cricket will hugely benefit in case he returns.8221;