Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THIS WILL RANK JUST AS SPECIAL
Ireland v Pakistan Starts today EXCLUSIVE BY DEAN WILSON
THE newest Test fixture in the game will mean just as much as the oldest to the one man who is lucky enough to have been a part of both.
Fast bowler Boyd Rankin played just once for England in the 2013/14 Ashes series in Sydney (below) after switching allegiance from his native Ireland with the specific aim of playing Test cricket.
Now that Ireland have joined the top table and begin that history against Pakistan in Dublin today, Rankin will get the chance to show that there is more to his ability than his disappointing debut suggested.
Hampered by a shoulder injury and wracked with nerves and cramp, Rankin could only take 1-81 across a disappointing debut in the final defeat of a 5-0 whitewash but he has no regrets over the experience.
“The Ashes was a great experience but playing a Test for Ireland will mean just as much to me,” said the 33-year-old. “I think this is still a chance for me to show what I can do on the biggest stage and at the highest level. I didn’t really show what I was capable of in the last Test I played for a couple of reasons but I’m a bit older and wiser now.
“I thought I had the opportunity to play a few Tests with England but it didn’t work out that way and I only got a little taste with the one match. I’ve moved on now and want to do my best for Ireland.
“My experience should help me. Obviously the crowd isn’t going to be anywhere near as big but it is still the same occasion, this is just as important to us.
“I’ve got no regrets about the choice I made and I wouldn’t change anything that happened.”
Rankin might be the only Test player in the Ireland team at the toss but Pakistan will be challenged by plenty of players with high class one day experience and who have excelled in county cricket.
“It will be an emotional time for a lot of us,” added Rankin. “And thinking about someone like Ed Joyce who is 39 now, it will be a special day for him and his family.”