OTD: Irish pacer Boyd Rankin was born in 1954

Former Ireland pacer Boyd Rankin was born on July 5, 1984, in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The tall speedster became one of the most notable faces in Irish cricket. Rankin first made headlines during the 2007 ICC World Cup, where he played an important role in Ireland’s solid run to the Super Eights. He claimed 12 wickets in the tournament, including a three-wicket haul against Pakistan that helped Ireland cause one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

His strong performances earned him county contracts in England, starting with Derbyshire and later Warwickshire. Under coaches like Allan Donald, Rankin honed his skills and became a consistent performer in county cricket. In 2011, he took over 50 wickets in a county season for the first time.

Rankin decided in 2012 to leave Ireland and look for a spot in the England national team. He made his England debut in 2013 and soon played an ODI against Ireland in Dublin, picking up four wickets against his former teammates. 

He was also part of the 2013-14 Ashes squad and made his Test debut in the final match of the series in Sydney. By 2015, with limited opportunities in the England setup, Rankin returned to represent Ireland. He continued to lead their pace attack and featured in both ODIs and T20Is. 

He also played in Ireland’s inaugural Test match in 2018, becoming one of the few cricketers to represent two countries in Test cricket.

Rankin finished his international career with 170 wickets across all formats. His ODI career saw him claim 106 wickets in 75 matches, while he also played three Tests and 50 T20Is. He announced his retirement from international cricket in May 2021.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

For more exclusive updates, visit BJSports to access Exclusive News that is only for you, incisive analysis, and updates, and to keep up with all of the latest information on your favorite remarkable cricket players and teams. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!