Warwickshire facing Rankin dilemma

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Warwickshire face a battle to retain the services of Ireland fast bowler Boyd Rankin. The 27-year-old Ulsterman has just recovered from a foot injury which he suffered playing for Ireland in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers in March and is making his first senior appearance of the season in the current LV= County Championship match of the season against Surrey at Edgbaston.

Rankin is out of contract at the end of the year and Warwickshire had opened talks with him about a new deal before he broke down. Those discussions were reported to be going well but the situation has changed since Rankin returned from injury.

Two other counties are understood to have made formal 28-day approaches for Rankin who has also changed his agent in recent weeks. His salary demands have also increased, leaving Warwickshire with a difficult choice of whether to enter into a bidding war or allow one of their prized assets to move on.

Warwickshire are understandably keen to retain Rankin who took 55 Championship wickets for them last season after another foot injury restricted his effectiveness in 2010.

Rankin had spells with Middlesex and Derbyshire before he joined Warwickshire for the 2008 season and he has started to blossom under the tutelage of bowling coach Graeme Welch.


Date: 28/07/2012 21:12:52 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today |