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Jeremy Bray enjoying a refreshing drink in the West Indies back in 2007. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
The Slog Sweep

Ireland's Jeremy Bray on scoring a World Cup century and the week-long party that followed

The now-retired batsman recalls his One Day heroics in the Caribbean and the greatest St Patrick’s Day party of all time.

THE PARTY EASED off more than seven years ago but former Ireland cricketer Jeremy Bray still recalls a long, cacophonous night with a wince hangover-recalling wince.

The Australian-born batsman represented Ireland with distinction for over 15 years and is now coaching Denmark’s international team. He caught up with The Slog Sweep to discuss his remarkable achievement of scoring Ireland’s first ever One-Day century at a World Cup.

He said, “I tried to block everything out and just be nice and relaxed, I think, and try not to worry too much about the occasion and that was it… It was a great day and was lucky enough to get a hundred on the board.”

Bray’s highlight of the World Cup trip to the Caribbean was the sense of team spirit Ireland, who progressed to the knock-out stages, possessed. “We were all like brothers, we’d literally die for each other out on the pitch,” he said. The personal lowlights were each time he was bowled or caught out. He consoles himself that he was removed by a quarter of bowling superstars – Glenn McGrath, Mohammed Sami, Shaun Pollock and James Anderson.

Jeremy Bray watches the television 19/3/2007 Bray takes in some World Cup action with a local fan. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland defeated former World Cup winners Pakistan in a thrilling St Patrick’s Day encounter. The party that followed, he recalls, was epic.

“I think i’m still recovering from it… mate it was awesome we were treated like kings and certainly the St Patrick’s Day festivities were ones to remember alright.”

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Click here to listen to episode seven of The Slog Sweep, hosted by Mark Robinson and Andrew Leonard.

The podcast’s seventh visit to ‘Club Corner’ is to Ireland’s most northerly cricket club, Coleraine Cricket Club. First team manager Trevor Harper chats to the lads ahead of their huge cup double header this weekend.

We’ll also hear from another remarkable double centurion, Lisburn’s Craig Ervine, and Ireland Women’s international Kate McKenna. There’s several Performances of the Week, a North West-dominated O’Neill’s Team of the Week , #AlmostCricketLegend stories and much, much more.

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