A leg break bowler, Birrell took 75 wickets at 30.16 in his career for Eastern Province, before turning to coaching.
[1] He led Ireland in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup where they reached the Super Eight Stage.
In the tournament they beat two Test nations, Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as achieving a tie against Zimbabwe.
[3] On 14 December 2018, Birrell was appointed first team manager at Hampshire County Cricket Club.
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