| Andrew Balbirnie Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 9 in |
| Weight | 73 kg |
| Date of Birth | December 28, 1990 |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Spouse | Kate McKenna |
Andrew Balbirnie is an Irish professional cricketer who has represented his country in all 3 formats of the sport (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), as a top-order batter. In November 2019, he was appointed the captain of the team in all 3 formats. In the Irish domestic circuit, he has played for Leinster Lightning (2013–Present) across all 3 formats. A rare occurrence in modern cricket, Andrew has also played domestic cricket outside of his home country representing teams such as Middlesex County Cricket Club (2011–2015) and Glamorgan County Cricket Club (2020–2021) in England.
Born Name
Andrew Balbirnie
Nick Name
Andy, Balbo
Sun Sign
Capricorn
Born Place
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
Residence
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
Nationality
Education
Andrew had attended St. Andrew’s College, a co-educational, inter-denominational, international independent day school in Dublin. After his high school graduation, he joined Cardiff University, a public research university in Cardiff, Wales.
Occupation
Professional Cricketer
Manager
He has been represented by Niall O’Brien (Former Irish International Cricketer), Manager & Booking Agent, CSM Sport and Entertainment, Global Integrated Sports and Entertainment Agency, Spratton, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom.
Batting
Right-Handed
Bowling
Right-Arm Off Break
Role
Top-Order Batter
Jersey Number
- 63 – One Day International (ODI), T20 International (T20I)
- 15 – Middlesex County Cricket Club (English Domestic Cricket)
Build
Athletic
Height
5 ft 9 in or 175 cm
Weight
73 kg or 161 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Andrew has dated –
- Kate McKenna (2014-Present) – Andrew began dating Irish former international cricketer and former domestic-level field hockey player Kate McKenna in 2014. The couple got engaged in December 2020 and got married in June 2022.
Race / Ethnicity
White
He is of Irish descent.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Toned physique
- Short-cropped, side-parted hair
- Affable smile
- Sports a rugged beard
Brand Endorsements
He has been sponsored by –
- CA Sports (Pakistani sports equipment manufacturing company)
- Neary’s Lusk (Irish motor vehicle dealership)
- AllClear Travel Insurance (English insurance provider)
Andrew Balbirnie Facts
- Andrew first came into the spotlight in 2009 when he captained Ireland to victory in the Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament. He was then named the captain of Ireland’s squad for the 2010 Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup. Ireland ended up runners-up to Bangladesh in the ‘Plate Championship’ of the tournament, finishing 10th overall out of 16 teams.
- He was the leading run-scorer in the 2018 Inter-Provincial Trophy (the premier domestic T20 cricket tournament in Ireland), with 262 runs in just 6 matches. He was also the leading run-scorer for Leinster Lightning in the 2018 Inter-Provincial Championship (the premier domestic first-class cricket tournament in Ireland), with 302 runs in just 4 matches.
- In May 2018, he participated in Ireland’s first-ever match in the international test format. That historic match, against Pakistan, turned out to be a bittersweet experience for Andrew as he was dismissed for a pair (no runs scored in either inning of a match) in that match. This made him the 44th batsman overall, and the first for Ireland, to bag a pair on debut in test cricket.
- In August 2020, in the third and final match of Ireland’s bilateral away ODI series against England, he scored his 2,000th run in ODI cricket. The match was a historic occasion for Irish cricket as they defeated the world champions in their backyard. To add icing to the cake, Ireland also recorded its then highest successful run chase in ODIs (329 runs) in that match.
- In July 2021, he captained Ireland to their first-ever ODI victory against South Africa. He led from the front in that match, scoring 102 runs in 117 balls to set up a challenging target of 291 runs for South Africa. Ireland went on to win the match by 43 runs and he was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his performance.
Featured Image by Andrew Balbirnie / Instagram
