Ireland match winner O'Brien eyes England test career

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 19 (Reuters) Ireland's Niall O'Brien, who helped eliminate 1992 champions Pakistan from the World Cup, said his ultimate ambition was to play Test cricket, probably for England.

The 25-year-old scored 72 to earn the man of the match award and lavish praise from his captain in Saturday's victory. His gutsy innings helped put Ireland on the cusp of qualification to the Super Eights.

Although his short-term goal is to do well at the World Cup and cement his first team place at new county side Northamptonshire in English first-class cricket, eventually he wants to follow countryman Ed Joyce into the England team.

''I want to play cricket at the highest level and obviously that's Test match cricket -- whether that's for Ireland or England I'm not really sure,'' O'Brien told Reuters yesterday.

''Realistically, it's with England.'' Given that Ireland are still novices on the world stage and only establishing themselves in one-day internationals -- this is their maiden World Cup -- England would certainly be his obvious route to the top.

He signed for Northants after four years at Kent, where he was the deputy wicketkeeper to England's Geraint Jones, now in the wilderness after losing his place during the recent 5-0 Ashes defeat by Australia.

'STEPPING STONE' O'Brien is thankful for his spell at Canterbury with Kent, where he played the majority of his 41 first-class matches.

''I had four great years at Kent, made some great friends and I probably wouldn't have played too much first-class cricket anywhere else if Jonesey wasn't in the England side,'' O'Brien said.

''It proved to be a great stepping stone and I want to push on with Northants now. Hopefully we'll be in the Super Eights and I will be able to do my pre-season (training) out here in the sun rather than the cold and rain in Northampton.'' The wicketkeeper said Saturday's clash with Pakistan was the most intense match he has played in. His previous highlight was as man of the match in Ireland's win over West Indies in Belfast in 2004.

''The Pakistan match was a different feeling as it wasn't a friendly, it was a World Cup,'' O'Brien said.

''After the first innings the crowd expected us to win. It was pretty high pressure but really enjoyable. I just thrived on the moment.'' REUTERS PDS VC2312