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In a landmark moment for Ireland cricket, Paul Stirling etched his name into the annals of history during the 1st ODI of the three-game series against West Indies where Stirling’s composed 54-run knock eventually helped, alongside Andrew Balbirnie’s hundred, steer Ireland to a commanding 124-run victory.
Ireland’s Paul Stirling achieves landmark feat vs West Indies in 1st ODI
Stirling became the first player from Ireland to cross the coveted 10,000-run mark in international cricket for Ireland. As the hosts embarked on a critical ODI series that plays a role in their qualification journey towards the ODI World Cup 2027, Stirling’s milestone served as both a personal triumph and a symbolic moment for Ireland cricket’s evolving stature on the global stage.
The veteran right-hander reached the landmark when he notched his 37th run during the innings, ultimately departing for a well-compiled 64-ball 54. This innings was not just another fifty, it was his 57th in international cricket, reflecting the consistency and durability that have defined his career. By reaching the 10,000-run mark, Stirling also became the 97th cricketer in the history of international cricket to achieve this milestone. While that number may seem crowded at the global level, it is a colossal feat for someone representing a country that only recently gained full-member Test status.
Also READ: Andrew Balbirnie’s ton powers Ireland to a historic win over West Indies in 1st ODI
Stirling’s cricketing journey across formats
Stirling’s journey in international cricket has been marked by longevity, adaptability, and an unyielding appetite for runs. Having made his ODI debut in 2008 against New Zealand, Stirling quickly became the backbone of Ireland’s batting unit. He added T20I cricket to his résumé a year later in 2009, and when Ireland earned Test status, it was no surprise that Stirling was among the eleven men to feature in their inaugural red-ball fixture against Pakistan in 2018.
What sets Stirling apart in Ireland’s cricketing landscape is not just his achievements but the margin by which he leads his peers. Currently, the second-highest run-scorer for Ireland is Balbirnie, who opened the innings alongside Stirling in the same game against the West Indies. Balbirnie (6129), who has been a steady performer for Ireland, is still 4,000 runs behind Stirling, a gap that underlines the latter’s exceptional consistency and longevity.
In third place is Kevin O’Brien (5850), famous for his iconic century against England during the 2011 World Cup, while another former captain and stalwart, William Porterfield, occupies the fourth spot with 5,480 international runs. The sheer gulf between Stirling and the rest underscores his unique place in Irish cricket history, as someone who has not only delivered match-winning performances but also carried the batting unit through several transitional phases. His contribution goes far beyond numbers, it’s about anchoring the identity of Ireland cricket through turbulent and transformative years.
Paul Stirling becomes the first-ever player to cross 10,000 runs for the Ireland team across formats 🙌#Cricket #PaulStirling #irelandcricket pic.twitter.com/vTf96MfN1R
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 22, 2025
