“I’m delighted to be returning to Irish cricket”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Pace bowler Boyd Rankin has confirmed that he will start representing Ireland again after his tenure as an England player did not go according to plan.
Rankin, who represented England in one Test, seven ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals, met with Cricket Ireland last week to complete his move back to the national team.
Ireland had tried to recall Rankin in the summer, but the 31-year-old decided to put his decision on hold as he wanted to see who made the squad for England’s winter tours.
“I’m delighted to be returning to Irish cricket, where I was born and learned the game,” Rankin said. “I’ll always be grateful to England for the chance to play Test cricket, but with little opportunities in the last two years, I felt it was time to move on at this stage of my career.
“There’s a real opportunity for Ireland to get Test status now, and that prospect was a real lure for me – I’d love to be part of history. Before that of course there’s a T20 World Cup in India – I’ve played in three before with Ireland and it’d be great to make it four.
“I’ve also very happy memories of both the 2007 and 2011 50-over World Cups in the West Indies and India, and I’d like to make it a hat-trick of appearances in 2019 in England.”
Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth was delighted to welcome Rankin back to the Ireland line-up, and said: “It’s fantastic news for Irish cricket to have a bowler of his undoubted quality back in the fold.
“We’ve had a number of retirements in recent times, losing quality and proven performers such as Trent Johnston and John Mooney. That has severely depleted our quick bowling stocks so to have Boyd returning gives everyone a tremendous boost.
“His height and the extra bounce he generates makes him such a difficult proposition for opponents, and it gives skipper William Porterfield a fantastic extra option in his armoury.”
Rankin’s first assignment as an Ireland player will be an Intercontinental Cup match against Papua New Guinea in Townsville, Australia, from January 31 to February 3.