Cricket Ireland has confirmed that Ireland international Boyd Rankin will play for Derbyshire County Cricket Club for the remainder of the Vitality Blast competition.
The 35-year old paceman is centrally-contracted by Ireland and currently playing Inter-Provincial first-class cricket for the North West Warriors but will link up with the Falcons immediately as an overseas player.
Rankin will be available for tomorrow’s match against Northants Steelbacks and is really looking forward to playing in the shorter format once again.
"I’m pleased to have joined Derbyshire for the Vitality Blast," said Rankin. "I’ve always enjoyed T20, it’s such an exciting format and I can’t wait to get going.
"I am very familiar with the club having played here previously and I know that the supporters are right behind the players, so hopefully we can put in some good performances and get wins on the board."
Rankin won the English Twenty20 competition in 2014, claiming 14 wickets at an average of 20.00 to help Warwickshire claim the title.
He has taken 89 wickets in 77 Twenty20 matches throughout his T20 career at an average of 21.39, with career-best figures of 4-9.
Standing at 6’8”, Rankin joins a pace attack already containing Ravi Rampaul and Logan van Beek, both of whom have also played cricket at international level.
Cricket Ireland submitted a No Objection Certificate this week, effectively permitting Rankin to sign up with Derbyshire.
Cricket Ireland's Performance Director Richard Holdsworth believes there will be a payoff for Rankin on the international stage.
"This is an important year for the Ireland Men’s international team with the T20 World Cup Qualifier approaching in October," said Holdsworth.
"This opportunity adds immensely to Boyd’s preparations for the Qualifier and will take him through to the end of August, when he will then join the Belfast Titans in the Euro T20 Slam."
"We would like to sincerely thank the North West Warriors coaching staff for their support in making the decision to release an important player for the remainder of their season, and recognising the opportunity for one of our key players to be on peak form by the time of a key event to hopefully put us back on the world stage."
