You won’t believe how long I’ve been chasing Iain O’Brien for this but one of my favourite Kiwis finally obliged and agreed to an interview. We spoke about selling shoes for charity, doing an Afridi, and sledging Ricky Ponting…
mspr1t: What’s life been like in the UK and being retired from International cricket?
Iain O’Brien: It’s been great to hang with Mrs OB. It’d been a tough road to travel from when we met; we spent far more time apart than together, it’s now great to get that ratio back on track.
I’ve been able to still stay in cricket thanks to Middlesex CCC. I’ve loved playing for them, playing at Lords and getting to know those lads. It’s been a really bad season for me with injuries. I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t suffered too much over my career; this year has been pay back.
Living in London has been good fun too. It’s such a massive city, compared to Wellington especially, with so much to do and see; slowly working my way around it.
msp: What do you miss the most and would you ever consider ‘doing an Afridi’?
IOB: Dancing on a pitch?? Eating a ball?? Ummmm, nope! Oh, come out of retirement; never say never. That was the basis of a couple of chats that I had before I left. I miss it, I miss the competition, I miss the group; I loved being a part of that team. I really missed the Australia series at home; Day 1 was a beautiful day in Wellington, I was sad not to be a part of it.
msp: What was the best sledge you ever came up with?
IOB: I was never funny enough to have one that’ll go down as a beauty… But telling Ricky Ponting, at Adelaide, that he’d “missed out” after having him caught at mid wicket, certainly created a storm in a tea cup; by him.
msp: Worst thing somebody ever said to you on a cricket field?
Probably what Ricky Ponting said back… he would have to write a few cheques for the swear box if I told you what he said…
msp: If you were a 90s pop star, who would you be? You can’t say BonJovi.
I have to say Jon Bon Jovi… or maybe Tommy Lee… so in your rules it’ll have to be Tommy Lee
msp: Would you ever want to host a talk show? What would you call it and who would be your first guest?
IOB: I’m into doing radio at the moment, really enjoying commentating, so it’ll have to be a radio talk show and first guest would be Dan V; as much as he’d hate it.
msp: What was your most embarrassing moment on the cricket field?
IOB: Getting stumped when Jesse Ryder was on 96 at the other end. I’ve never felt worse, for him and for Chirs Martin who had to, and did, get him through to his 100.
msp: Would you like to coach a team in the future, maybe have your own IPL franchise?
IOB: I’ve wanted to, for quite a while, be a bowling coach. I don’t think I’m stable enough to be a head coach, but to make a difference to a bowler and a group is where I know I can make a difference. So no to the IPL franchise, but yes to working with a head coach in a IPL franchise.
msp: Cricket or music?
IOB: Cricket… I love this game
msp: You’re selling some old shoes at the moment for charity and to keep the missus happy. Tell me about more about that?
IOB: It’s time for a bit of a clear out, and this is just a start. Mrs OB wants some of the clutter cleared up and I’ve got so much ‘kit’ around the house. The shoes have been sitting around for a bit, time to get rid and hopefully make some money for a cricketing charity; it is but a drop in the ocean though, in terms of stuff I have to clear out.. You can follow this link to find out more.
msp: Will you wash the shoes before you ship them off to the winning bidder?
IOB: Shoes will be shipped as is. With turf from the last ground they were worn on. I’ll sign them if someone wants that.
Iain O’Brien played Test cricket for New Zealand from 2005 to 2009 taking 73 wickets in 22 matches at an economy rate of 3.31. He is currently playing for Middlesex in London. Check out his blog or follow him on Twitter.