Stephen Warke, the son of a distinguished international, was first capped aged 21. He spent 15 years in the Ireland team, playing a then record 114 times, becoming the first player to score 4,000 runs. He scored four centuries in his 4,275 runs, the highest of which was 144no against Scotland in Castle Avenue in 1985.

A stylish opening batsman with Woodvale, he scored all around the ground and possessed a solid defence. He captained Ireland 39 times, missing the 1994 ICC Trophy when he broke an elbow in the warm-up for the first match.