Boyd Rankin, 6′ 8″ tall pacer, announced his retirement from international and inter-provincial cricket. He made his debut for Ireland in the year 2003 when they were still an associate nation! During his career, Ireland also went on to become a full-member nation. His last appearance in an international match was against Afghanistan in a T20I played last year in India.
Though Rankin made his debut for Ireland, he went on to play for England and was also picked for the 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia! He played a total of 10 International games for England before returning to Ireland ahead of the World T20 2016. During this tenure with England, Rankin even played an ODI match against Ireland (his debut nation) and his bowling figures of 4/46 helped them restrict Ireland to a par total and thereby helping England register a victory by 6 wickets!
Rankin featured in Ireland’s maiden Test match after returning to Ireland, thereby becoming one of the 15 players thus far to represent two nations in the Test match format! He also had a successful limited-overs career playing in victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh in the ODI World Cup 2007 and in a famous victory over England in the ODI World Cup 2011 played in India.
“To retire from international cricket is always a tough call, but I feel now is the right time to step away. I have put my heart and soul into playing cricket professionally since 2003 and have loved every minute of it. I never dreamt I would play for Ireland as much as I did and to travel the world playing in numerous World Cups and to pull on the Irish jersey is something I will never forget,” said Boyd Rankin.
“To have also a long career in county cricket especially during my 11-year stint with Warwickshire where we won the County Championship, 50-over competition twice and the T20 Blast in 2014 was very special and something I am very grateful for. I always strived to be the best player I could be and to play at the highest level possible, so to make my Test debut for England during a time when Ireland wasn’t a Test-playing nation was a very proud moment. I will miss all the guys I played alongside the most and enjoying the wins we had along the way,” added Rankin.
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