Birrell hopes to sign off in style

The coach and his team will return to great acclaim - whatever happens in their final World Cup Super Eight match against Sri Lanka - from a campaign which has seen them secure a place in the International Cricket Council's one-day rankings for the first time.

The former Eastern Province leg-spinner has chosen to move on and he said: "It's a feeling of sadness, in one way. It's been a long journey, and an enjoyable and satisfying one. It's about to come to an end. But I'm ready for that end as well."

He added: "I probably will be quite emotional, being the person I am."

Birrell sees his four-year association with Ireland as the culmination of a cricketing career which has not always delivered as he hoped.

"It means a lot to me, and I think people will forgive me for being emotional," he said.

"It's mainly a sense of great pride that I've achieved what I've achieved.

"I've said before many times in my career that I've felt I've underachieved as a player and a coach - and never really got the just rewards.

"But I think now cricket has paid me my dues. That is the way I really feel."