Boyd Rankin

Boyd Rankin is a legendary Irish pacer - he is tall, fierce, and a hit-the-deck kind of a bowler. He charges down the track swiftly and smoothly like Curtly Ambrose or Glenn McGrath, however, the 6’7” bowler is much taller than the veterans. Hailing from Londonderry, the Irishman is only the third Test cricketer to have played for two countries. 

The pacer comes from a sporting family with all three siblings to have played the sport at the representative levels. However, Boyd became the one to play cricket at the highest level. The pacer made his international debut in 2007, in an ODI clash against Bermuda, just before the World Cup in West Indies.

The ICC event of 2007 was a dream for Rankin as he took Ireland to the Super 8 round of the World Cup. The pacer scalped 12 wickets in the tournament, including his gritty 3 for 32 against Pakistan, that pushed the Men in Green out of the tournament. Two years later, when the Ireland team did well in the World T20 in England, the pacer was struggling with too many injuries. 

During the 2011 World Cup, Rankin was part of the team that stunned England at Bengaluru. However, destiny had different plans for the Irishman, as the pacer decided to quit Ireland Cricket in 2013 to play to provide his services to England. 

Rankin made his international debut, for England, against New Zealand in a T20 clash. While his England ODI debut followed shortly and ironically in Dublin, where Rankin took four wickets against his former team. Later in 2013, during the Ashes Down Under, he made his Test debut at the SCG. However, by the end of 2015, Rankin again made himself available for the selection of Ireland, after representing England in one Ashes Test, seven ODIs, and two T20Is. 

The lanky pacer returned to Ireland and played a vital role in the World Cup qualifiers. He was at his best but sadly could not help his side to qualify for the World Cup in 2019. Post qualifiers, Rankin played Ireland’s ever Test match, against Pakistan to become the third cricketer to play the longest format for two countries, after Kepler Wessels and John Traicos. 

Rankin is unarguably the best fast-bowler ever produced by Ireland. He has been playing the sport since 2007. In this long career span, the Irishman has set very high standards for his contemporaries to match. 

On 21st May 2021, the legendary pacer drew curtains to his brilliant career by announcing retirement from the international stage. After representing in 3 Tests, 75 ODIs and 50 T20Is, Rankin managed to scalp 169 wickets at the highest level.

(As of July 2021)