TRENT JOHNSTON BELIEVES that the shock win against Pakistan in 2007 was the moment that changed cricket’s fortunes in Ireland.
Johnston, who has taken over as coach of the women’s national team since his retirement, captained Ireland to the unlikely St Patrick’s Day win at the 2007 World Cup.
The result sent shockwaves throughout the cricket world, eliminating Pakistan and putting Irish cricket on the map.
“Apart from my two kids being born, [it was] the greatest day of my life,” Johnston told this week’s episode of The Slog Sweep.
To be out there and to change the fortune of a sport in a country where it’s very much a minority sport and put it on the front pages and put it on every radio station and every media outlet around the world that Ireland had beaten Pakistan, it was great to be there.
“It was a very special moment.”
Ireland went on to claim another scalp when they beat Bangladesh in the Super 8 stage before they were eventually eliminated.
The team returned home to a heroes’ welcome but Johnson says he was one of the few optimists setting out for the West Indies.
“I remember turning up to the airport and having an extra suitcase. My good mate Jeremy Bray said, ‘What’s the extra suitcase for?’ and I said, ‘Well I’ve packed for seven weeks.’
“They all sort of laughed and giggled at that but that’s true.”
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Click here to listen to the full interview with Trent Johnston on this week’s episode of The Slog Sweep, hosted by George Hook and Andrew Leonard.
‘Club Corner’ took the team to Sion Mills Cricket Club while they also hear from Pembroke’s Meg Kendal, and Andrew Balbirnie.
