10 times an unfancied bowler tore through a top batting side

7, Alex Cusack vs Sri Lanka

Cusack’s nagging medium pace bowling has proved useful in crunch situations for Ireland

Alex Cusack, a Brisbane-born carpenter, qualified for Ireland through residency and has been a vital cog of this associate nation ever since moving there. He combines nagging medium-pace bowling with sensible batting, and has been known to surprise batsmen with his variations.

Despite his many good international showings, his 4-18 in just 3 overs against Sri Lanka in the 2009 T20 World Cup was a standout performance, and came as a pleasant surprise to cricket fans all over the globe who’d written off the Irish team quite easily.