The landmarks are coming thick and fast for Ireland's players and the latest to win his 100th cap, today, will be Niall O'Brien.

The Northamptonshire professional becomes the 12th to chalk up a century of international appearances — and the third this year after his brother Kevin and captain William Porterfield— and he would love nothing more than to celebrate with victory against England in the World Twenty20 in Guyana.

He admits it would leave all his other achievements in the shade.

“If we could beat England and knock them out of the World Twenty20 that would top everything as the best day of my career,” — yes, even the victory over Pakistan at the World Cup when he was man of the match after his innings of 72.

With 3,165 runs in his first 99 matches at an average of a shade under 40 — the best of anyone who has played more than half a dozen matches — it is one of the most successful Ireland careers and he has his sights set on beating every record in the book.

Still only 28-years-old, only six players have scored more runs and he is just 1,100 behind Stephen Warke's record aggregate.

With six centuries, only Jeremy Bray, Ivan Anderson and Porterfield, with seven, have more and he has only Ossie Colhoun ahead of him in the wicket-keeping stakes, O'Brien needs 57 more to pass the North West man's awesome 191 in just 87 matches.

After his Ireland highlights roll off the tongue — his first cap at Stormont in 2002 with his dad, former international captain Brendan, watching, his first 100 at The Mardyke “one of my favourite grounds”, beating Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in Belfast, receiving the man of the match award from Brian Lara after beating West Indies in 2004 and, of course, his first World Cup — he then has a surprising confession.

“The toughest time was in the lead-up to the 2007 World Cup when I was probably in the worst form of my life,” said O'Brien.

“I nearly got sent home by (then coach) Adi Birrell from the trip to Kenya for a few reasons but battled through it and got a few runs.”

Not far behind was Friday's night's debacle in their World Twenty20 opener against West Indies when Ireland were bowled out for 68, and he is blunt is his assessment.

“It was a bad night at the office from all of us, simply not an acceptable performance,” he said.

“We just have to forget about it and get back to the nets and prepare for Tuesday.”

O'Brien has no hesitation in picking out close friend Eoin Morgan as England's most dangerous player and the vocal keeper, who keeps up a non-stop barrage of chat when he is behind the stumps, says it will be no different tomorrow and there will be no exception for his former international team-mate.

“I'll have a little chirp but it will be good banter, nothing malicious,” he said.

“We're all pretty good mates with Moggy, but on Tuesday we want and need to get him out as early as possible because he is their best player.”