Reuters:

Ireland's Niall O'Brien, who helped eliminate 1992 champions Pakistan from the World Cup, said his ultimate ambition was to play Test cricket, probably for England.

The 25-year-old scored 72 to earn the Man-of-the-Match award and lavish praise from his captain in Saturday's victory. His gutsy innings helped put Ireland on the cusp of qualification to the Super Eights.

Although his short-term goal is to do well at the World Cup and cement his first team place at new county side Northamptonshire in English first-class cricket, eventually he wants to follow countryman Ed Joyce into the England team.

"I want to play cricket at the highest level and obviously that's Test match cricket, whether that's for Ireland or England I'm not really sure," O'Brien told Reuters on Sunday. "Realistically, it's with England."

Given that Ireland are still novices on the world stage and only establishing themselves in one-day internationals, this is their maiden World Cup, England would certainly be his obvious route to the top.

He signed for Northants after four years at Kent, where he was the deputy wicketkeeper to England's Geraint Jones, now in the wilderness after losing his place during the recent 5-0 Ashes defeat by Australia.