IRELAND and Northamptonshire wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien spent a day at York’s St Olave’s School taking net and match sessions with 11 and 12-year-old pupils.

The cricketer worked with the boys that are going on tour to Kenya in October and conducted fielding practice in a limited overs game against the school’s U13s first eleven.

Wicket-keeping exercises took place in the afternoon, before the senior team at St Peter’s School spent time with the Irish World Twenty20 player.

O’Brien ran out Craig Kieswetter for 13 in Ireland’s match with the eventual world champions at Guyana.

Steve Williams, director of sport at St Peter’s, said: “We were very lucky to get Niall for the day and he really put the boys through their paces, clearly demonstrating what it takes to be a professional cricketer.”

“It was a unique experience for our younger players and a day they won’t forget,” added Nathan Savage, St Olave’s head of sport.