Our first match of the tour, the 3 day opener against Jamaica was really just an opportunity to get a match under our belt and get acclimatised. Having only arrived on Thursday, that match started on the Saturday. We spent two days in the field so the bowlers had a good workout. We would have liked to score more runs - we weren't happy with that but overall it was a worthwhile exercise.
I scored 60-odd in that game and felt in really good touch - the best nick I've been in for a while. There was a hundred there for the taking but it wasn't to be. A little disappointed with that.
By the way, the incident with John 'Boy' missing his connection in London was just one of those things. I've known him since we were 10 and no one works harder than on his game or is more dedicated. Since we've been out here he's been working twice as hard as everyone else.
Back to more important matters... In the 50-over match against Jamaica we just didn't get enough runs. 227 wasn't going to be enough to put Jamaica under pressure on that track and they won pretty comfortably.
I missed that game with a sore chest. I was actually in hospital for a couple of days and had some x-rays done but it seems to be fine now. It was still a bit sore during the Jamaica T20 match but was fine for the West Indies match.
It was good to get our first win of the tour against Jamaica in the T20 - a great confidence boost and gives us a real appetite for more success. It was really pleasing to see Gary Kidd come in and get a couple of wickets - he's had a rough time of late. Paul Stirling has started to bowl and is doing very well which is another big positive.
Against the West Indies, we had a good start - Trent and Kevin did really well. Trent is actually bowling fantastically at the moment. He's very fit and bowling as well as he has done in the last 10 years - just great to see.
Unfortunately in that game we had about 3 bad overs and that cost us. That was the difference between them getting 144 rather than 120. And 144 was always going to be a struggle for us. But that is how you learn - playing tough matches and learning from the experiences.
In the meantime, Boyd has joined us but his foot still isn't right and he won't be able to play until we leave for Trinidad in about a week's time. It's a little bit disappointing.
Otherwise Boatsy (Andre Botha) has been sick for a couple of days but not injured.
Besides those two small concerns we're all fine.
Off the pitch it's been great - really enjoying it. Police escorts everywhere we go and staying at some exclusive resorts. The Jamaican Cricket Association and Tourist people have been really fantastic. And the Jamaican team were really friendly - tough competitors on the field but we've actually spent a lot of time with them off the field - that's been good.
It's a happy camp. We know that it's important to be happy off the field to play well on it. We've been training and working really hard on the trip - a lot of fitness work and I think that will really stand to us. It is not going to be an alcohol-free trip but we know as professional cricketers there is a time and a place, so for now there is a ban on alcohol. It's a matter of enjoying the water and Gatorade for now!
I guess the thing I would miss about home is going down to the local and having a pint of Guinness with a couple of mates...but there are compensations... It's 35 degrees every day so we're in shorts and tee-shirts all the time. We're certainly enjoying the weather!
We're all looking forward to Thursday's match at Sabina Park, where we had the success in 2007. Any ODI is a great opportunity for Ireland to show what it can do on the international stage. The West Indies know we're a decent side - they were very respectful in the post-match press conference after the T20. So it is an important match for sure.
Having said that, when it comes down to it, the T20 World Cup is really the business end of the tour.
In T20 cricket you need a least one player to get a big score and I really feel playing at the top of the order I can be that player. I've been thinking about this tournament for a long time and I've got a couple of plans and ideas. I'm really excited about it. We want to reach the Super 8s and then win a couple of those matches. We believe we can do it...
Niall O'Brien in conversation with Liam Rooney
Ireland's next match is an Official One Day International on Thursday April 15th against the West Indies at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
Copyright: Cover Point
