The O'Brien dynasty continues
Rob O'Brien is the latest in his family to make his mark on the international stage
The urge is just too strong. You want to be fair to the young man. He’s just had a career day at the highest stage available to him. Don’t compare him to his famous uncles. Or even his grandad. Sugar, sure his aunt also played for Ireland at youth level.
We’ve all failed on that front.
Friday was Rob O’Brien’s moment, not that of Kevin, Niall or any other O’Brien who has previously donned the green of Ireland. The 17-year-old Railway Union batter hit 79 as Ireland U19s went down by an eight-wicket margin to Australia in their first game of the latest underage World Cup.
The result was never going to be in doubt, given the disparity of cricket available to Irish youngsters in comparison to other full member nations. Should an Ireland player stands up with a fighting display, showing flashes of talent against high quality opposition, that’s enough to keep onlookers at home happy. O’Brien provided that positivity.
Shots all around the ground were on display. He was happy to get inside the line to the seamers, cashing in on the pace to hit behind square. Footwork was used when dancing down the ground to spin. A few strong shots towards wide mid-on were also on display. At one point, given the late push for boundaries, a century could well have popped into his thinking.
O’Brien’s immediate family was at the ground in Windhoek, Namibia. Mum, dad and brother. “My brother landed in just as I went out to bat,” says Rob, smiling. “He managed to get to the ground in time.” In time to see a half-century in his brother’s first World Cup game.
Also there to take it all in was Niall O’Brien, brother of Rob’s father, Ger. Working for the ICC broadcast, the family connection clearly goes beyond a watching brief.
Rob is a diminutive left-hander, batting in the middle order. He enjoys utilising pace when it’s on offer while using his feet to spin. Sound familiar? Irish cricket’s online community was awash with variations of one phrase. ‘He’s the spit of Niall.’
It’s always curious how these things turn out. Of his two famous uncles, Kevin would have more of an influence on Rob given he is the first team coach at Railway. Yet the latest O’Brien would have been too young really to see either of his uncles in their pomp - he was two years old when Ireland beat England in Bangalore.
Maybe it’s too easy to look at a left-handed O’Brien and make the comparison. Regardless, replace Rob’s blonde hair with the red of Niall and you’re not far off. Rob even uses the same Gray Nicholls brand as Niall. Is batting technique genetic?
“Maybe it’s the way Ger threw him balls down at Railway,” jokes one of Rob’s coaches.
“I see the resemblance with Niall but I wouldn’t have watched them a lot,” says Rob. “I watch the highlights now on YouTube but when I was growing up I didn’t take in how they batted, I just watched them.
“They’ve definitely played a huge part. Just getting small tips off Niall and Kev, working a lot with Kev down in Railway, it’s given me a huge boost.”
The biggest learning from his international relatives?
“The mindset. I’ve chatted a lot with Kev when we’re playing games or even during training, how to build an innings.
“I only did it once or twice but coming down the track to the spinners, I enjoy that. Against the seamers, getting a bit deeper and either riding on the ball or using the pace to get it behind square would be a strength of mine.”
All of which was said rather nonchalantly. Rob understands the family chat, but at the end of the day, they’re just his uncles.
Every fan of every sport falls too easily into the hype trap. The second a young player shows any promise, time to get on the bandwagon. Given Ireland’s well-accepted problems with investment into its talent pathways, perhaps we are even more susceptible to a bout of shiny new toy syndrome. Especially when the latest prospect has family pedigree, be it important or otherwise.
Famous uncles or not, alongside Adam Leckey, O’Brien was seen as one of Ireland’s more promising batting prospects heading into this World Cup. He’ll certainly have help close to home as he bids to move up through the ranks.
Whether he makes it or not, Friday’s unique family affair is worth celebrating. Cricket across the world is sustained by families passing the sport through the generations, but rarely is that as stark as in Ireland’s small community. Few other nations have ex-pros commentating on nephews at an international level.
Ireland’s prospects in this tournament rest on O’Brien’s teammates as much as him. His hopes for a professional career rely on his own desire as much as the help of family.
For all that, should Rob play 100 times for Ireland’s senior side or not at all, Windhoek will forever be the latest chapter in Irish cricket’s familial tale.