Ireland's batting heavyweight and captain, Paul Stirling, carved a moment of history on Wednesday as he became the first Irish cricketer to breach the 10,000-run barrier in international cricket.
The landmark moment came during the first ODI against the West Indies in Dublin, and fittingly, it arrived with a punchy half-century that laid the groundwork for Ireland's total of 303.
Stirling, 34, needed 37 runs to reach the milestone going into the match. With steely determination and trademark fluency, he reached the mark with a composed 64-ball 54, getting Ireland off to a strong start after the West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl. It wasn't just a statistical featit was a statement, as Stirling powered his team forward on their journey to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Stirling is now well ahead of the chasing pack among Ireland's run-scorers, with Andy Balbirnie a distant second. Here's a look at the top international run-scorers for Ireland:
| Player | Runs | Innings | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Stirling | 10,017 | 324 | 2008-2025 |
| Andy Balbirnie | 6,129 | 235 | 2010-2025 |
| Kevin O'Brien | 5,850 | 250 | 2006-2021 |
| William Porterfield | 5,480 | 210 | 2006-2022 |
Balbirnie, Stirling's long-time ally at the crease, added his own shine to the day with a superb knock of 112 his ninth ODI century and second against the West Indies. The composed innings saw him crawl to 50 off 88 balls before shifting gears and blasting the next 50 in just 44 deliveries.
The middle order, too, stood up when needed. Harry Tector injected energy with a fluent 56 from 51 balls, while Lorcan Tucker's cameo a fiery 30 off 18 helped Ireland cross the 300-run mark.
Chasing 304, the West Indies crumbled early, losing five wickets for just 31 runs. Matthew Forde was clinical with the ball, picking up three wickets, while Alzarri Joseph and Roston Chase chipped in with two and one respectively during Ireland's innings.
But all eyes were on Stirling, whose contribution went far beyond his half-century. His career, now in its 17th year, has mirrored Ireland's growth on the international scene. From helping his team shock world champions in global tournaments to now leading from the front, Stirling has been the constant heartbeat of Irish cricket.
As Ireland eye World Cup qualification, Stirling's milestone is not just a personal triumphit's a symbol of a cricketing nation that's steadily making its mark on the global stage.
