Steven Kirby
Encyclopedia
Steven Paul Kirby is an English
first-class cricket
er who plays for Somerset
and England A.
Having previously played for both Yorkshire
and Gloucestershire
, up to the end of the 2006 season he had taken 278 first class wickets in 76 matches at 30.01 and another 31 wickets in 37 one day games. Kirby has also played for the MCC
against 2007 county champions Sussex
, taking 4-39.
winning side in 2001 in his first season in the first class game and had a fairy tale start to his career. Called up after the match had started to replace a test bound Matthew Hoggard
, Kirby skittled Kent
to claim 7 for 50. His third game for Yorkshire thrust him into the fray against Leicestershire
, his former employers who had sacked him without a first-class appearance. Kirby won the match for Yorkshire with match figures of 12 for 72. He went on to take 47 championships wickets at 20.85.
His belligerent personality has seen him in regular confrontations with opposing batsmen, and occasionally umpires. He is renowned as one of the best, if most obscure, 'sledgers' in the game. In dismissing Mike Atherton
twice, in Atherton's last County Championship game, Kirby remarked that he had 'seen better batters in my fridge'.
Kirby struggled to repeat his success in his second season, claiming 37 wickets at 34.00, and 2004 brought only 31 wickets at 36.00 thanks in part to a nagging back problem.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
er who plays for Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
and England A.
Having previously played for both Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
and Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
, up to the end of the 2006 season he had taken 278 first class wickets in 76 matches at 30.01 and another 31 wickets in 37 one day games. Kirby has also played for the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
against 2007 county champions Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
, taking 4-39.
Yorkshire
He was a vital part of Yorkshire's County ChampionshipCounty Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
winning side in 2001 in his first season in the first class game and had a fairy tale start to his career. Called up after the match had started to replace a test bound Matthew Hoggard
Matthew Hoggard
Matthew James Hoggard MBE is an English cricketer. The 6' 2" Hoggard is a right arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed batsman. He played international cricket for England cricket team from 2000-2008, playing both Test cricket and One Day International cricket. He is currently the captain of...
, Kirby skittled Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
to claim 7 for 50. His third game for Yorkshire thrust him into the fray against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire 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 Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
, his former employers who had sacked him without a first-class appearance. Kirby won the match for Yorkshire with match figures of 12 for 72. He went on to take 47 championships wickets at 20.85.
His belligerent personality has seen him in regular confrontations with opposing batsmen, and occasionally umpires. He is renowned as one of the best, if most obscure, 'sledgers' in the game. In dismissing Mike Atherton
Mike Atherton
Michael Andrew Atherton OBE is a broadcaster, journalist and retired England international cricketer. A right-handed opening batsman for Lancashire and England,and occasional leg-break bowler, he achieved the captaincy of England at the age of 25 and led the side in a record 54 Test matches...
twice, in Atherton's last County Championship game, Kirby remarked that he had 'seen better batters in my fridge'.
Kirby struggled to repeat his success in his second season, claiming 37 wickets at 34.00, and 2004 brought only 31 wickets at 36.00 thanks in part to a nagging back problem.