North West cricketer Boyd Rankin is expected to take his place at the crease when England open their batting in the fifth and final Ashes test against Australia in Sydney tonight.
After watching the first four Test defeats from the boundary, the Bready bowler has been brought into the English attack as the visitors attempt to avoid an humiliating five-nil whitewash defeat.
However, the 6’8″ man’s debut proved to be frustrating as he limped from the Sydney Cricket Ground on two occasions with a suspected hamstring injury.
The 29-year-old was only able to deliver 8.2 overs as the Aussies recovered from 97-5 to finish on 326 all out.
However, reports suggest he was suffering from cramp and is expected to take the field as England chase Australia’s first innings total.
Rankin, who replaced Tim Bresnan in one of three English changes from the side beaten by eight wickets in the fourth Melbourne Test, bowled one ball in his ninth over before he came off for treatment before tea.
He later returned but bowled just one more delivery before again pulling up short.
England will resume tonight on 8-1, having lost opening batsman Carberry for a “duck.”
Tags: