Niall O'Brien leads Ireland's run-scoring table © Getty Images

Niall O’Brien has an Australian one-day cap framed on his wall in Dublin, but he really wants to play for England. He got the treasured piece of memorabilia as a 17-year-old after throwing balls to Steve Waugh, who was a guest player with Ireland, and he picked up more Australian characteristics during four seasons in Sydney.

An on-field disagreement with Brian Lara showed O’Brien’s aggression and he has also done well at the World Cup with the bat, scoring 202 runs to be the side’s leading man. "I learnt quite a bit about how to play the Australian way, that hard edge, the relentless, ruthless way they play,” he said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “I love being under pressure."

O’Brien has a contract with the county Northamptonshire and is hoping to follow Ed Joyce’s path to England qualification. "I still have to cement my spot in the first XI at Northants and qualify,” he said, “but my ultimate dream is to play Test cricket for England.” See the full story here.