Paul Stirling, the pocket-sized dynamite, has become the third Ireland player to complete 300 games when he started in the playing XI against Zimbabwe in the first of the five T20Is to be played between the two sides.
“It’s been a long journey since debuting in 2008 and if you had asked me back then I never thought I would have had the privilege of playing this many games,” Stirling said in an interview to Belfast Telegraph.
It must be noted that this is not his 300th international game, but overall 300 matches while representing Ireland and it includes First-Class matches during the Inter-Continental Cup era and List A matches before Ireland got the full-time ODI status.
“I owe a lot to my family and coaches for the time and dedication they have put in throughout my career to date,” added Stirling, who was also the show-stealer in The Hundred Final, bagging the Man of the Match award in the Final against Birmingham Phoenix. It was a season that saw his side Southern Brave’s dramatic turnaround after the first two losses to reach the Eliminator and then the Final and win it.
Andrew Balbirnie, the captain of Ireland was also excited about the development. “I think he’s really happy with getting that exposure that he absolutely deserves. I’m a big believer that he should be playing in every domestic competition around the world because he’s that good,” he said in another interview.
As far as international matches are concerned 31-year-old Stirling lies just behind veteran Kevin O’ Brien in matches played for Ireland. While O’Brien has played 255 games, Stirling with this game in Clontarf will be playing his 216th game for Ireland. Since making his debut in 2008, Stirling has so far represented the Men in Green in 131 ODIs, 82 T20Is and three Tests.