This coming week promises to be a special one for Waringstown all-rounder Kyle McCallan. Weather permitting, he will play his 200th game for Ireland in the second of three scheduled ODI�s with Kenya at Stormont on Monday, two days before his 33rd birthday.

The records show that thus far he has scored 3326 runs, placing him 4th on the top run aggregate list, behind Stephen Warke, Ivan Anderson, and Alan Lewis. He has made two centuries, against the MCC in 1996, in just his second match, and two years later against Wales. Given the strength of the Irish batting at present, McCallan has had to content himself with a place in the lower order, even on occasions being as low as number ten.

His bowling has really developed over the past few years, and given his success on the World stage, some local observers of the game have dubbed him �The best off-spinner in the British Isles.� The figures show that he has currently 219 wickets, with a best return of 5-23 against Italy. That also places him fourth on the all time list, behind Dermott Monteith, Jimmy Boucher, and Simon Corlett.  His spell during the recent European Championship win over Scotland, where he took 3-10 from 7 overs, was rated by those present as among the best seen in Irish colours in recent years.

Looking back at an international career spanning 12 years and counting, McCallan reflects, �There�s a lot of memories in there, but I suppose the World Cup will always be the abiding one, and it�s something that will live for all the squad for a long time. From a personal point of view, getting the Man of the Match when we fought back brilliantly to beat Kenya and win the InterContinental Cup for the first time is right up there. Every win over a county and Test side is special, and going way back to 1997 and the win over Middlesex under Hansie Cronje was a watershed in Irish cricket. My first hundred in just my second match against MCC was a proud moment, especially with my family watching.�

�With highs come low points and there�s been a few along the way as well. I didn�t play a single game during the ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 97, and the fact that we missed out to Scotland in a 3-4 place play off for the World Cup, was another kick when we were down. Also against Australia �A� in 98, I went through a torrid time against Andy Bichel and Jason Gillespie, where I couldn�t buy a run. It�s fair to say that you learn more from the lows than you do the highs, and with that experience, I can pass it it on to the current young crop of players like Paul Stirling, who has just come through a rough spell, and they will be the better for it.�

There obviously have been a few regrets along the way, and McCallan reveals a well hidden personal angst, �I wish I had more faith in my own ability when I was younger. I would always have had an element of self doubt, and in many ways it was banished by the World Cup experience. I battled for most of my career with fear of failure, and negativity about my own performances. If I could turn the clock back ten years, I�d have been more positive, and hopefully that would have meant a career in County cricket.  Last year showed I can perform at the highest level and compete against anybody. I�ve taken a huge amount of confidence from that, and also of course with experience comes the ability to cope with different situations, and I have 3 or 4 different plans of attack for each situation.�

�I had a lengthy conversation with the New Zealand coach John Bracewell about my role, and he spoke of the need to be adaptable, and not just be a defensive 1-30 type of bowler. I should look at ways of being more attacking, and using my abilities to become a more potent wicket taker. I�m always learning, and hopefully there�s a bit more left in the tank yet.�

What of the missed opportunities to emulate his Ireland colleagues, and forge a career on the County scene? �I don�t know if I regret not making it in England, because I didn�t particularly enjoy my time there. I was over with Derbyshire and Surrey, but it didn�t work out. I have no gripes about not being selected by Surrey, but Derbyshire rankles with me a bit, because I bowled exceptionally well during my trials there, but they didn�t call, and that was that. Part of the pleasure in doing so well for Ireland, is proving them wrong, and showing not only to others but myself, that I could have made it given a proper chance. Ed Joyce and the rest hadn�t broken in to County cricket at the time, but I guess the door now has well and truly been flung wide open.�

What then of the recent quandary that Ireland has found itself in, trying to secure the services of their English based star performers, �It�s very difficult trying to please everyone. We�ve got to become self financing, and be in a position to offer contracts to the players. There will always be those who wish to play at the highest level, and for Test cricket that means representing England.�

�There may be a future opportunity for us to play in the County set up, and I see Scotland�s Second XI are competing at the moment, and although they are losing heavily, their young players are learning all the time, and improving as a result. Cricket Ireland and Scotland are definitely getting more and more competitive cricket than the other Associates, and as a result I think we are both moving ahead.�

Looking back, who did McCallan rate as his most difficult opponents during the 12 years? �Brian Lara was just simply a league above anybody else. You just had to simply accept that he was going to hit you for a few boundaries along the way. I did manage to get him out once, and I�ll always be grateful for Ian Callender saying that he was my �rabbit� ahead of a game at Stormont. A century later, and the natural order of justice had been restored � thanks Ian!�

�I�ve been fortunate to play with a lot of exceptionally talented cricketers during my time in the team. Of course there were the overseas guys, Jonty Rhodes, Hansie Cronje, and the Waugh twins, but also the local guys. Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce are both super talents, while Trent Johnston and Andre Botha would grace any County side, and it�s been a real pleasure playing along side them.�

Having been part of some many different sides, how did each rate, �The team that went to Malaysia in 97 was actually a very good side, but when you see how far we�ve come in the past 5 or 6 years, and the belief and expectation of winning every game now, you have to say that we�re in a golden period for Irish cricket, and under Adrian Birrell and Phil Simmons, we�re right back up to the top of the tree again.�

There�s no doubting that Kyle McCallan has been a superb ambassador for Irish cricket both on and off the field, so much so that the occasion of his 200th cap will be marked by special presentations from both Cricket Ireland, and the newly formed Cricket Writers of Ireland.

With the T20 World Cup in June next year, preceded by the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Irish fans will be hoping that a fully fit McCallan will take part in both, and maybe even extend his career to the 2011 World Cup on the Asian sub-continent. That would provide the perfect platform for a finale from one of the greatest ever Irish cricketing talents.