Cricket:Cricket Ireland are in talks with Hamish Marshall after the former New Zealand international expressed an interest in playing and coaching in the country. Marshall has not played for the Black Caps since he refused a national contract for 2007-08 so he could play English county cricket as a Kolpak player.
The Gloucestershire middle-order batsman already holds an Irish passport and would be eligible to play for Ireland from April 2011, subject to approval from the International Cricket Council.
He said: “I certainly love playing county cricket with Gloucestershire and plan to do so for some time yet. However, I miss international cricket and, being an Irish passport holder, there’s hopefully an opportunity to combine both with Ireland.
“There’s the added attraction of getting involved on the coaching side of things which is important as I look to my future.”
Marshall made the last of his 66 one-day international appearances during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, coincidentally against Ireland in Guyana. In addition, he has played 13 Test matches scoring 652 runs at an average of 38.35, making centuries against both Australia and Sri Lanka.
Cricket Ireland coach Phil Simmons said: “It would be a great boost for Irish cricket to have a player of the calibre of Hamish Marshall available.We would intend to make use of his talent not just on the field, but within all our coaching structures.
“It’s our plan to have Hamish involved with our youth, women’s and elite squads, and that can only be good for Irish cricket.”