Ireland’s Boyd Rankin insists he has no regrets over playing for England as he prepares for his country’s first Test at Lord’s.
The 35-year-old fast-medium paceman will this week stride out at the home of cricket in just Ireland’s third Test, and their maiden one on English shores.
Rankin will go up against former international team-mates after he turned his back on Ireland to play for England in 2012.
“I have no regrets,” said Rankin on his temporary international switch. “At that stage of my career, there were no real opportunities to play Test cricket for Ireland.
“That has changed now but at that time I wanted to play at the highest level, and representing England was the only way I could do it.”
The 6ft 7ins bowler made just one long-format appearance when featuring in England’s heavy fifth-Test defeat to Australia in Sydney more than five years ago.
After he was subsequently overlooked by England’s senior and Lions’ teams, Rankin gave up hope of a recall and rejoined his native Ireland.
“It was a tough Tour to start with,” recalled Rankin. “I made my debut and it was a blur.
“I hurt my shoulder a few days before the Test and I wasn’t fully fit going into the game. I felt I had to give it a go. It was one of those that I didn’t know how bad it was until I got back home.
“In hindsight, I shouldn’t have played, but when you get an opportunity to play Test cricket it is one you want to take.
“I have still got my England shirts and caps. They will be cherished as that is a big part of where I have been. I am really proud of that. They all go up on the wall alongside my Ireland stuff.”
Rankin made himself available for Ireland again at the end of 2015.
Eighteen months later, Ireland were granted Test status, and have played two matches, against Pakistan in Dublin and away in Afghanistan.
But their four-day meeting against England at Lord’s, a precursor to this summer’s Ashes which starts next Thursday, will be a historic occasion for Rankin and his Ireland team-mates.
“It is a dream come true, and it is something I never thought would happen in my playing career,” added Rankin, looking ahead to the historic clash which gets underway on Wednesday.
“You can’t get much better than a Test match at Lord’s.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here