Boyd Rankin
Encyclopedia
William Boyd Rankin is an Irish cricketer, from Derry
, Northern Ireland
. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler.
William is a tall bowler who stands at 6 ft 8 inches and has a distinctive bouncing action in his bowling. Rankin revealed in an interview that his action is modelled on bowlers like Curtly Ambrose
and Glenn McGrath
who "hit the deck from just back of a length outside off stump". He studied agriculture at Harper Adams University College
in Shropshire
, during which time he worked on his batting technique.
"because of the Irish connection, with Ed Joyce and Morgan there, I wanted to be some place where I knew a few faces". During his two season stint at Middlesex, from 2004-2005, Rankin played several times for the second XI but failed to break into the first team.
for the 2006 season, encouraged by Mike Hendrick
, Derbyshire’s bowling coach. Although Rankin played a first team match and a Pro40 match in which he took a wicket with his first over, his season was prematurely cut short by a side strain.
Derbyshire renewed his contract for the 2007 English season, though his opportunities were limited due mainly to injury. He played just three first-class matches taking 10 wickets at an average of 29.20 with best figures of 4/41 which was against his old county, Middlesex; in that match he finished with his best first-class match figures of 8/121. He also played five one day matches taking 4 wickets at an average of 50.50 with best figures of 2/56.
. Rankin explained his choice as a difficult one, but the opportunity of working with Alan Donald was too good to miss. He was contracted to play in the controversial Indian Cricket League
for the Kolkata Tigers
; fellow Irishman, Niall O'Brien
also participated in the tournament.
Rankin jeopardised his season when in April 2008 he injured himself during fielding practice before a County Championship
match against Worcestershire
. He dived to stop a ball and landed awkwardly on his shoulder, suffering a SLAP tear
to his right shoulder. He underwent an operation and was expected to be on the sidelines for about six months. After just four months, Rankin was back playing cricket. In August 2008, he made his debut for Warwickshire in a first-class match against Essex
. He finished with figures of 4/80 in a drawn match as Warwickshire only bowled once. He finished the season with 12 first-class wickets for Warwickshire in five matches at an average of 30.16, and did not play any one-day matches for Warwickshire. Speaking in October 2008 about his first season with Warwickshire and being coached by Alan Donald, Rankin said "He [Donald] doesn't seek to make many technical changes during the season – that's more for the winter. It's more about the mental side of the game, how to work a batsman over, how to think more about the game, how to work batsmen out and take more wickets".
At the end of the 2008 season, Warwickshire secured promotion from the Second Division of the County Championship to the First. In 2009 Rankin impressed Ashley Giles
, Warwickshire's director of cricket, with his bowling. Giles commented that "[Rankin]'s got great attributes – he's tall, he can bowl fast, the ball bounces from nowhere ... We've just got to keep him fit". Having generally come on as first or second change bowler for Warwickshire in 2008, at the start of the 2009 season Rankin was entrusted with the new ball and opened the bowling with Chris Woakes
.
Rankin had a successful World Cup
in the Caribbean finished as Ireland's leading wicket taker of the tournament, with 12 wickets in his 9 matches at an average of 27 at a strike rate of 29.67. In Ireland’s second game of the 2007 ICC World Cup, Rankin took 3/32 to bowl Pakistan out for 132 and win the match, causing a major upset. Ireland's victory against Pakistan ensured they progressed to the next round. A stress fracture of the fibula forced Rankin to miss ODIs against India and South Africa in 2007 which Ireland lost.
In August 2008, Rankin made his first appearance for Ireland since the 2007 World Cup. He played in the first two ODIs in the three match series against Kenya before returning to Warwickshire. In the first match Rankin took 2/26 as Ireland won by 33 runs, however he did not bowl in the second match which was rained off after Ireland had batted for eight overs. In October 2008, Rankin playing in the Intercontinental Cup
against Namibia
; finished with match figures of 7/72, with 5/39 in the second innings as Ireland secured an eight run win. In the match he recorded his maiden first-class five-wicket haul. In the tournament final against Namibia, Ireland won by nine wickets and Rankin finished with match figures of 6/107.
Rankin was part of the Ireland squad that took part in the tri-series against Kenya and Zimbabwe
in October 2008. Ireland did not qualify for the final of the tournament because they had a lower run-rate than Kenya; Rankin played in both of Ireland's ODI and took two wickets at an average of 41.50. In April 2009, Rankin was part of the Ireland squad which won the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier
. Rankin finished the tournament as Ireland's leading wicket-taker, with 15 wickets from 9 matches at an average of 20.40, and was the equal sixth highest wicket-taker for the 2009 tournament.
Although Rankin didn't play in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
in August 2008 in which Ireland shared the title with the Netherlands, he was selected for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
. He made his Twenty20 International
debut on 8 June 2009. In Ireland's six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Ireland's opening match of the tournament, he took 1/36 from his four overs with Naeem Islam
as his maiden wicket. The match was also Rankin's first competitive Twenty20
match. Rankin was one of seven Ireland players to be nominated for the 2009 Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year (there were fourteen nominees in all), although he did not make the 4-man short-list.
In January 2010, Rankin sustained a stress fracture to his right foot which forced him to miss Ireland's tour of Sri Lanka. He recovered from injury in time to be selected in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup
.
On August 16th, Rankin represented the England Lions vs Sri Lanka A.
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler.
William is a tall bowler who stands at 6 ft 8 inches and has a distinctive bouncing action in his bowling. Rankin revealed in an interview that his action is modelled on bowlers like Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose is a former West Indian cricketer. His skill was as a right-arm fast bowler, especially in partnership with Courtney Walsh...
and Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath
Glenn Donald McGrath AM , nicknamed "Pigeon", is a former Australian cricket player. He is one of the most highly regarded fast-medium pace bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century...
who "hit the deck from just back of a length outside off stump". He studied agriculture at Harper Adams University College
Harper Adams University College
Harper Adams University College is a higher education institution located close to the village of Edgmond , in Shropshire, England. It is the UK's leading specialist provider of higher education for the agri-food chain and rural sector....
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, during which time he worked on his batting technique.
Middlesex
His performances in for Ireland’s U-19s and the Ireland A team to attracted the attention of county scouts and prompted several offers of trials. In an interview, Rankin stated that he chose to join MiddlesexMiddlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
"because of the Irish connection, with Ed Joyce and Morgan there, I wanted to be some place where I knew a few faces". During his two season stint at Middlesex, from 2004-2005, Rankin played several times for the second XI but failed to break into the first team.
Derbyshire
In an effort to experience more first team cricket, he signed a deal with DerbyshireDerbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
for the 2006 season, encouraged by Mike Hendrick
Mike Hendrick
Michael Hendrick is a former English cricketer, who played in thirty Tests and twenty two ODIs for England from 1973 to 1981...
, Derbyshire’s bowling coach. Although Rankin played a first team match and a Pro40 match in which he took a wicket with his first over, his season was prematurely cut short by a side strain.
Derbyshire renewed his contract for the 2007 English season, though his opportunities were limited due mainly to injury. He played just three first-class matches taking 10 wickets at an average of 29.20 with best figures of 4/41 which was against his old county, Middlesex; in that match he finished with his best first-class match figures of 8/121. He also played five one day matches taking 4 wickets at an average of 50.50 with best figures of 2/56.
Warwickshire
At the end of the 2007 season, Rankin turned down a new contract with Derbyshire in favour of a two year contract with WarwickshireWarwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
. Rankin explained his choice as a difficult one, but the opportunity of working with Alan Donald was too good to miss. He was contracted to play in the controversial Indian Cricket League
Indian Cricket League
The Indian Cricket League was a private cricket league funded by Zee Entertainment Enterprises that operated between 2007 and 2009 in India...
for the Kolkata Tigers
Kolkata Tigers
Royal Bengal Tigers was one of the nine teams played in the defunct Indian Cricket League . This team is based in Kolkata, India and its captain is former New Zealand all rounder Craig McMillan.- Players :...
; fellow Irishman, Niall O'Brien
Niall O'Brien (cricketer)
Niall John O'Brien is an Irish cricketer educated at Marian College, Ballsbridge. He is a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. O'Brien's brother Kevin plays with him in the Irish team...
also participated in the tournament.
Rankin jeopardised his season when in April 2008 he injured himself during fielding practice before a County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
match against Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
. He dived to stop a ball and landed awkwardly on his shoulder, suffering a SLAP tear
SLAP tear
A SLAP tear or SLAP lesion is an injury to the Glenoid labrum . SLAP is an acronym that stands for "superior labral tear from anterior to posterior".-Overview:...
to his right shoulder. He underwent an operation and was expected to be on the sidelines for about six months. After just four months, Rankin was back playing cricket. In August 2008, he made his debut for Warwickshire in a first-class match against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
. He finished with figures of 4/80 in a drawn match as Warwickshire only bowled once. He finished the season with 12 first-class wickets for Warwickshire in five matches at an average of 30.16, and did not play any one-day matches for Warwickshire. Speaking in October 2008 about his first season with Warwickshire and being coached by Alan Donald, Rankin said "He [Donald] doesn't seek to make many technical changes during the season – that's more for the winter. It's more about the mental side of the game, how to work a batsman over, how to think more about the game, how to work batsmen out and take more wickets".
At the end of the 2008 season, Warwickshire secured promotion from the Second Division of the County Championship to the First. In 2009 Rankin impressed Ashley Giles
Ashley Giles
Ashley Fraser Giles MBE is a retired English cricketer. Giles played the entirety of his 14-year first-class career at Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he is now employed as Director of Cricket...
, Warwickshire's director of cricket, with his bowling. Giles commented that "[Rankin]'s got great attributes – he's tall, he can bowl fast, the ball bounces from nowhere ... We've just got to keep him fit". Having generally come on as first or second change bowler for Warwickshire in 2008, at the start of the 2009 season Rankin was entrusted with the new ball and opened the bowling with Chris Woakes
Chris Woakes
Christopher Roger Woakes is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast pace bowler who found success at Warwickshire to the extent that he topped Warwickshire's 2008 county bowling averages, and was selected for the England Lions squad as well as the preliminary...
.
International career
Rankin has represented Ireland at every age group from U-13 upwards, and by the age of 15 he was playing first team cricket for Bready, his local club. He played three youth One Day Internationals (ODI) for Ireland, finishing with two wickets at an average of 52.00. Performances for the Ireland A team prompted Rankin’s inclusion in the World Cup Squad, although in the World Cricket League he made little impact in Ireland’s unsuccessful campaign as he played only one match and was unavailable with a stomach bug for much of the time. Rankin took 4/56 against the UAE to help Ireland make the Intercontinental Cup Final of 2007, which Ireland later won although Rankin did not play because of county commitments.Rankin had a successful World Cup
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
in the Caribbean finished as Ireland's leading wicket taker of the tournament, with 12 wickets in his 9 matches at an average of 27 at a strike rate of 29.67. In Ireland’s second game of the 2007 ICC World Cup, Rankin took 3/32 to bowl Pakistan out for 132 and win the match, causing a major upset. Ireland's victory against Pakistan ensured they progressed to the next round. A stress fracture of the fibula forced Rankin to miss ODIs against India and South Africa in 2007 which Ireland lost.
In August 2008, Rankin made his first appearance for Ireland since the 2007 World Cup. He played in the first two ODIs in the three match series against Kenya before returning to Warwickshire. In the first match Rankin took 2/26 as Ireland won by 33 runs, however he did not bowl in the second match which was rained off after Ireland had batted for eight overs. In October 2008, Rankin playing in the Intercontinental Cup
2007-08 ICC Intercontinental Cup
The 2007-08 ICC Intercontinental Cup was the fourth edition of the ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament, an international first class cricket tournament between nations who have not been awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council. The first fixtures were played in June 2007, and the...
against Namibia
Namibia national cricket team
The Namibia cricket team is the team that represents the country of Namibia in international cricket matches. It is governed by Cricket Namibia, an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1992 and became part of the High Performance Program in 2007. They took part in the 2003...
; finished with match figures of 7/72, with 5/39 in the second innings as Ireland secured an eight run win. In the match he recorded his maiden first-class five-wicket haul. In the tournament final against Namibia, Ireland won by nine wickets and Rankin finished with match figures of 6/107.
Rankin was part of the Ireland squad that took part in the tri-series against Kenya and Zimbabwe
2008 Associates Tri-Series in Kenya
The 2008 Associates Tri-Series in Kenya is a One Day International cricket tournament which was held in Kenya from October 17 to October 25, 2008. The tri-series involves the national teams of Ireland, Kenya and Zimbabwe.-Points Table:-Matches:--------...
in October 2008. Ireland did not qualify for the final of the tournament because they had a lower run-rate than Kenya; Rankin played in both of Ireland's ODI and took two wickets at an average of 41.50. In April 2009, Rankin was part of the Ireland squad which won the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier
2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier
The 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier was a cricket tournament that took place in April 2009 in South Africa. It was the final qualification tournament for the 2011 Cricket World Cup....
. Rankin finished the tournament as Ireland's leading wicket-taker, with 15 wickets from 9 matches at an average of 20.40, and was the equal sixth highest wicket-taker for the 2009 tournament.
Although Rankin didn't play in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
2009 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
-Group B:---------Semi-finals:-----Finals:---------External links:* from Cricinfo* from CricketArchive* from CricketEurope...
in August 2008 in which Ireland shared the title with the Netherlands, he was selected for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
2009 ICC World Twenty20
The 2009 ICC World Twenty20 was an international Twenty20 cricket tournament which took place in England in June 2009. It was the second ICC World Twenty20 tournament, following the inaugural event in South Africa in September 2007...
. He made his Twenty20 International
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International is a form of cricket which is played over 20 overs per side between two national cricket teams. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket...
debut on 8 June 2009. In Ireland's six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Ireland's opening match of the tournament, he took 1/36 from his four overs with Naeem Islam
Naeem Islam
Mohammad Naeem Islam is an international cricketer from Bangladesh. He was born on 31 December 1986 in Gaibandha and is a right-handed batsman and occasional off break bowler...
as his maiden wicket. The match was also Rankin's first competitive Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
match. Rankin was one of seven Ireland players to be nominated for the 2009 Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year (there were fourteen nominees in all), although he did not make the 4-man short-list.
In January 2010, Rankin sustained a stress fracture to his right foot which forced him to miss Ireland's tour of Sri Lanka. He recovered from injury in time to be selected in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
.
On August 16th, Rankin represented the England Lions vs Sri Lanka A.
External links
- Boyd Rankin at CricketArchive
- Boyd Rankin at Middlesex CCC
- Boyd Rankin player profile at Derbyshire CCC
- Player profile at Cricinfo.com