The latest episode of Sport NI Athlete Stories is out now with former International cricketer Boyd Rankin.
‘The Wicket Man’ is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.
Rankin shares all with host Hugh Campbell about the psychology within cricket and the battle between bat and ball. He also discusses his upbringing and valuable advice to elite athletes on his preparation to compete at the top level.
Standing at 6ft 8, Boyd Rankin was a fast bowler who claimed over 500 wickets in his professional career in Test, ODI, T20 and First Class cricket which consisted of representing England, Ireland, Warwickshire and Derbyshire.
Rankin is one of very few cricketers to play for two countries in his International career with the likes of Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce also playing for England and Ireland.
Rankin had a fascinating start in International cricket as he received his first call up whilst studying agriculture where the original plan was for him to work at the family farm.
From the fields of the farm to the cricket pitch, Rankin went on to compete at the 2007 World Cup where he took figures of 3/32 as Ireland shocked Pakistan.
To reach the pinnacle of cricket Boyd switched to compete for England with Ireland not being a Test Nation. Therefore, Rankin stopped playing for Ireland in 2012 and soon after made his England debut in the 2013/14 Ashes.
Boyd would return to Ireland when they received Test status and took their first Test wicket on 11 May 2018 against Pakistan.
Rankin is now Head Coach of the North West Warriors as part of the North West Cricket Union and was recently a coach as Ireland hosted New Zealand for a Test Match at Stormont.