Former Black Cap Marshall eyes switch to Ireland

After watching Ireland beat England, Hamish Marshall is keener than ever to get back on the international stage and play for them in the next world cup.
The globe-trotting Marshall, who plays for Gloucestershire under an Irish passport in the English county competition is back in New Zealand to play as an overseas player for his old side the Northern Knights - a role he has filled in the English winter for three seasons.
"Ireland showed the other night that they are a side that are on the up and it'd be nice to be involved in that side. They're a great bunch of lads, they train hard and they've got plenty of talent, so hopefully it'll all work out," Marshall said.
Ireland stunned the cricketing world with a World Cup win over England last week but Marshall said the team has several experienced players who play county cricket and they have been the big improvers in Associate cricket - the competition played between cricket's so-called minnows.
"I think now that if there was a side that was pushed up to become an ODI side out of the minnows then I think that Ireland would be the next cab off the rank," he said.
Like many cricket fans Marshall is in favour of the cutting the size of the next Cricket World Cup but not to 10 teams - like some commentators are saying.
"To go back to 10 means that only one minnow will make it really and how do they decide which one it'll be ... anyway hopefully Ireland have done enough already to be awarded ODI status," he said.
The former Black Cap won't be eligible to play for Ireland until April after he played his last game for New Zealand at the last world cup in the West Indies.
"I have a four-year stand down period - from then I have to make the decision to play for Ireland or not - because it changes things (like eligibility) a little bit for county cricket so we have to work through that but in saying that I'd like to play at that level again," he said.
The 32-year-old twin brother of James, the ND skipper took a quick break from cricket after his arrival here recently to get married to Magda - and to introduce his bride to his Kiwi family and friends.
"We met in Bristol but she was born in Poland and then lived in South Africa for 15 years and we met the first year I went over to play for Gloucester in 2006 Magda - but everyone calls her Mags," he said.
"We had a great day and that was the big event leading up to joining ND but it's nice to be playing again."
Marshall scored a half century in his first match back for ND in their win over Auckland but denied being a lucky charm for the team.
"The bowling played a big part of that and the batting in the second innings but its a nice way to start the four day campaign [for me] knowing that we've got to chase down CD and it's going to take some good cricket so it's a confidence booster to know that we've got the skills and we can move forward from there," he said.
Northern Districts start their match in Wellington today at Whangarei's Cobham Oval. The match was scheduled to start last Thursday but all rounds were rescheduled after the Christchurch earthquake.