Birrell hopes to sign off in style
Adrian Birrell was preparing for an emotional day as he takes charge of Ireland for the last time before returning to his native South Africa.
The coach and his team will return to great acclaim - whatever happens in their final World Cup Super Eight match against Sri Lanka - from a campaign which has seen them secure a place in the International Cricket Council's one-day rankings for the first time.
The former Eastern Province leg-spinner has chosen to move on and he said: "It's a feeling of sadness, in one way. It's been a long journey, and an enjoyable and satisfying one. It's about to come to an end. But I'm ready for that end as well."
He added: "I probably will be quite emotional, being the person I am."
Birrell sees his four-year association with Ireland as the culmination of a cricketing career which has not always delivered as he hoped.
"It means a lot to me, and I think people will forgive me for being emotional," he said.
"It's mainly a sense of great pride that I've achieved what I've achieved.
"I've said before many times in my career that I've felt I've underachieved as a player and a coach - and never really got the just rewards.
"But I think now cricket has paid me my dues. That is the way I really feel."
