Home truths at dream’s end

But for now those with wrinkleless fresh faces are being ribbed by the ones with receding hairlines for the rugby loss. On the dressing room stairs captain Trent Johnston puts his arm around the 6’ 7” feet giant baby of the team Boyd Rankin and says, “Boyd, go and dry your eyes.” This is followed by bout of hysterical laughter.

Tomorrow on the same steps, as Ireland walk into the sunset after the last game of their Caribbean cruise, Johnston might have to repeat himself. This time he might hear a few sobs regretting the end of a memorable journey. Though many of his teammates insist that Irishmen don’t cry, Rankin confesses that there “will certainly be a few misty eyes.”

Meeting Ireland’s foreign coach Adrian Birrell on the eve of his last day in office — the urge to be with his family after living out of a suitcase for years has forced him to go for voluntary retirement — one gets the impression that there at least will be a South African in tears after the Lanka game.

“Please bear with me tomorrow, I am an emotional man. Both as a player and coach I have been an underachiever and now finally cricket has paid my dues. For me, this Irish performance is as good as winning the World Cup,” says the 47-year-old who after a recent bout of flu seems weaker physically but is on second wind after the Bangladesh win.

As his five-year association with Irish cricket comes to end tomorrow, the thanksgiving and farewell speeches are already being made. Johnston at the press conference says how his men want to make their last game special for “this special bloke sitting next to me.”

Rankin recalls how five years back the coach told him that he had “it in him to play top quality cricket.”

Today the tall farm boy, who will take home memories of taking the wickets of England captain Michael Vaughan and Irish-born opener Ed Joyce, talks about his county contract with Derbyshire when asked about his future. But before restarting cricket he will briefly touch the ground realities during his week-long stay at home. “It’s that time of the season when the weather is fine, so I will have to take the cattle out for feeding. Besides, there is always work on the farm,” he says.

That was something even Johnston said when he was asked if he will miss addressing press conferences after tomorrow. “Yes certainly I will. Since it will be back to reality when we reach home,” said the traveling salesman whose lenient boss happens to be a former Ireland coach and someone who understands the reasons for frequent leave applications.

For the pro cricketers in the team like Jeremey Bates and O’Brien brothers Kevin and Niall, the World Cup is more about cricketing goals. Niall, like Ed Joyce, dreams to play for England one day. Kevin and Bates are looking forward to the English county season where Ireland are part of the league.

Even the full-time cricketers aren’t quite used to the boredom connected to long tours with big breaks as they longingly look homewards. Bates says he misses the Guinness, family and friends back home while Kevin can’t wait to reach home put his legs up have a cup of home made tea with biscuits and cherish the memories of his match winning knocks against Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Though for most of the older cricketers the month-plus stay at cricket’s pinnacle will remain their biggest high. The pacer with six World Cup wickets and truck driver by profession Dave Langford-Smith’s wife tells a touching story that best showcases the Irish cricketer’s fleeting brush with fame and brief stay in the spotlight.

Last year Ireland played their first ODI against England at Dublin in front of a packed house with lots of media attention. After the game the Smiths, while driving to their suburban home, lost their way and reached home well past midnight. On reaching home it was realised that Mrs Smith had forgotten to wash Mr Smith’s working overalls. Next morning Dave Langford Smith the cricketer, who was wearing the fresh bottle green Irish colours just hours ago, was in a smelly driver’s uniform.

This Monday Langford Smith is scheduled to be back on his truck. After staying in five-star luxury, enjoying complimentary cruise rides, had his name chanted by the euphoric fans and watched by billions on television, it will be back to the mundane middle class existence.

Touched by these intriguing tales one is about to walk out of the stadium when the media manager shouts for attention. He has just been informed that Ireland will be playing India and South Africa in official ODIs by June end.

In days to come Ireland might even get Test status as they squat comfortably on the global cricketing map. Though the dream is over for the Class of 07, the deeds of the bunch consisting of the bus driver, the school teacher and the salesmen will never be forgotten.