Boyd Rankin calls it quits from all forms of cricket

Ireland pacer Boyd Rankin has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. In a career that spanned close to two decades, Boyd Rankin played three Tests, 75 ODIs and 50 T20Is for Ireland and England.

He holds the record for becoming the first Irish bowler to take first Test wicket, when he dismissed Azhar Ali in a Test played at Malahide in 2018.

He made his first-class debut in 2003, Rankin was always regarded as a tough bowler to face due to amount of pace and bounce he gets off any surface.

In limited-overs cricket, Boyd Rankin made his debut for Ireland in 2007. In 68 matches played for Ireland, Rankin claimed 96 wickets at an average of 28.27 with three four-wicket hauls to his name.

In the T20 format, Boyd Rankin represented Ireland in 48 T20Is, in which he has taken 54 wickets at an economy rate of 22.12. The pacer has managed to end his international career with 169 wickets across all three formats.

He was also one of the few players who has played international cricket for two different countries i.e. England and Ireland. Following the footsteps of Eoin Morgan, who decided to play international cricket for England. In 2013-14 Ashes series played in Australia, Rankin made his Test debut for England at Sydney Cricket Ground. He also went on to play seven one-day matches and two T20Is before switching back to playing for Ireland.

Boyd Rankin said that the biggest achievements of his cricketing career was Ireland registering famous victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2007 World Cup played in the Caribbean. He was also part of Ireland team that managed to pull off a historic win over England in 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup staged in the subcontinent. He further stated that playing in Ireland’s first Test match was a truly historic moment for him as a player.

Apart being premier bowler for Ireland at the international stage, Boyd Rankin also spent almost 11 years playing for English county side, Warwickshire.