A five-wicket win against Namibia in the InterContinental Cup at Castle Avenue back in 2006 is the favourite game of Joe Curtis.

Joe Curtis is an award winning photographer who has been covering cricket for many decades. His stunning photographs have been a major factor in the success of CricketEurope over the years. He loves his cricket at all levels and can equally be seen at a Division 10 match as much as at an international. A good friend of mine, and I share his concern at the personal aspect being lost as the game has developed.

My favourite cricket game was back in May 2006 and the game was a four day affair, Ireland vs Namibia in the Intercontinental Cup.

Day 1 was a horrible day of wind and rain with little decent weather forecast. I was just taking photos but there seemed to be a tension in the air behind the scenes and, in my innocence, I assumed it was cricket related.

All was revealed on the washed out first day when I was asked to go into the bar at Clontarf to take a few snaps. A birthday cake was brought into the room and Happy Birthday was sung with gusto as Roy Torrens manfully blew out a truly massive number of candles. I never was too sure of his age but there seemed to be a zero at the end.

Cups of tea were consumed, and the respect shown to Roy was something enjoyed by very few Team Managers in any sport.

Day 2 highlight was having the pleasure of taking a photo of William Porterfield receiving his first cap from Roy Torrens; I was the only photographer in the ground at the time. Oh, on the cricket front Namibia were 21 for 4 in 7 overs at one stage and all out for 95.

Day 3 saw Ireland continue to dominate and the players and officials were in good mood. The players were walking 'laps' of the outfield and I chatted to the whole team in the course of the day. How different it is these days where this hardly ever happens. Cricket people are roped out and security is in place to reinforce the rules. I feel it is a shame and is something special lost.

Day 4 dawned fair but overnight rain had saturated the outfield and it took a Herculean effort to get the ground suitable for safe play. Karl McDermott worked his socks off along with some willing helpers. Ireland were set to make 54 to win and the Namibian bowlers must have sent shivers through Adi Birrell as they accounted for Ireland's top order; taking 5 wickets for 56.

In terms of match stats; Namibia 1st innings total 95 with KB Burger making 39 and Trent Johnston taking 6 for 23.

Ireland 1st innings total 173 with Trent Johnston making 71 and MC van Zyl taking 8 for 34.

Namibia 2nd innings total 131 with KB Burger making 48 & Dave Langford-Smith taking 4 for 22

Ireland were set to make 54 for victory and although they did win there was some nail biting on the way. Ireland 2nd innings total 56 for 5 with Eoin Morgan making 21 and KB Burger taking 3 for 22.

It was a game for the bowlers and when Ireland won the toss they were on the front foot. They asked Namibia to bat and dominated a low scoring, but enjoyable contest all the way.

Ed's postscript: Ireland would go on to defend the trophy with the second of what would be four ICup triumphs between 2005 and 2013.