Profile:
Name: Paul Robert Stirling
Date of Birth - 03/09/90
Birthplace - Belfast
Club - Carrickfergus CC
Bat – Right Hand Bat
Bowl – Right arm Off break
Debut for Ireland – March 2008 against UAE
Cap Number: 662
Highest Score for Ireland – 100 against Kenya, July 2009 (Intercontinental Cup)
Paul being presented with his first cap
Paul Robert Stirling, brother of Richard who played for Ireland Under 19s and Ross who played for Ireland Schools, is a prodigious cricketing talent.
Coming up through the underage ranks, in 2007 Stirling staked his claim for a place in Ireland’s senior squad when, playing as a 16 year old, he hit 114 against The Netherlands in the European Under 17 Championships and then followed this with 110 against Scotland in the Under 23 Championships.
He duly made his debut for Ireland as a 17 year old in March 2008 against the UAE in Dubai in an Intercontinental Cup match.
Though just turned 19 on 3rd September just gone, Stirling has already played 32 matches for Ireland amassing 767 runs at an average of 23.24 including five 50s and one 100.
The bare statistics are a little misleading though. In 2008 Stirling averaged 16.12 from 19 innings but in 2009 (as an 18 year old) his average went to 30.81 from 16 innings.
In July of this year he scored his highest score for Ireland – 100 against Kenya at Eglington in an Intercontinental Cup match and followed this up with 84 against the same opposition in a ODI in Dublin a few days later.
These scores together with his 30 against England in the August ODI have surely cemented his place in the team in all forms of the game.
Next up for Stirling is the Under 19 World Cup taking place in New Zealand in January.
At the Qualifying tournament held in Toronto in September, Stirling was comfortably the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 423 runs including two centuries at a (Ponting-esque) average of 52.88.
His top score of 164 against Vanuatu was again easily the tournament’s highest score. His other ton was scored against The Netherlands (102).
Though obviously hugely talented, Stirling remains unaffected. His modesty and self-deprecating sense of humour is refreshing. He doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously and prefers to let his run-scoring to do his talking for him……Now that could be a lot of talking!!
Paul cracks another boundary for Ireland
Paul Stirling: 60 Second Interview:
CP: How was 2009 for you?
PS: 2009 has been a long year with plenty of success right from the Friends Provident Trophy through to the Under 19 World Cup Qualification in Toronto.
CP: How was the WCQ in Canada?
PS: Obviously our target was to win the tournament and we managed to achieve that against some strong opposition. It was a great squad performance in what was a tough tournament schedule.
CP: Highlight of cricket career to date?
PS: Scoring 30 against England.
CP: Worst moment of your cricket career to date?
PS: Not scoring 60 not out against England!
CP: What are your goals for 2010?
PS: Perform well at the U19 WC and try to cement a place in the senior side.
CP: What are your (cricket) long term goals?
PS: IPL would be nice....
CP: Biggest Influence on your career?
PS: Family and all coaches from Gordon McKenzie (u13's) to Phil Simmons (seniors).
CP: Favourite cricketer and why?
PS: Ricky Ponting - the complete package.
CP: Outside of cricket what else are you passionate about?
PS: Subway, the food chain.............(hey, just kidding!)
Getting to grips with the Zimbabwe bowling attack
Paul Stirling in conversation with Liam Rooney
Copyright: Cover Point
