Who’ll steal the show – Gayle or O’Brien?

Mention the name Kevin O’Brien and his classic century scored against England in the 2011 Cricket World Cup immediately springs to mind. His knock of 113 from 63 balls was the fastest century in World Cup history but there is far more to the allrounder who is one of Ireland’s most talented cricketers.

Coming from a family of cricketers – his father and brother Niall also played for Ireland – O’Brien first represented Ireland at senior level in 2006 after playing for his country at under-19 level.

He played eight matches during the 2007 World Cup, scoring 49 against New Zealand and 48 against Bangladesh. O’Brien followed that with his famous performance in the 2011 tournament, following up with 4-71 against West Indies. O’Brien is also a regular on the Twenty20 circuit.

So, will he be able to dazzle during Ireland’s World Cup match against West Indies Monday? Or is it the WI star Chris Gayle who’s gonna steal the show?

Gayle has been playing one-day international cricket since 1999 and will represent West Indies in his fourth ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015.

A damaging allrounder, Gayle has scored more than 8800 ODI runs and claimed 158 wickets. With 21 centuries, 46 fifties and a five-wicket haul to his name, working out how to restrain the Jamaican will be a priority for other teams during the tournament.

Gayle enjoyed success at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups, including 119 against Kenya in 2003.

*With information from the website of The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015