Steven Kirby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steven Paul Kirby is a first class cricketer who has played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.
He was born on the 4th October 1977 in Ainsworth, Bolton, Lancashire and made a startling debut as a fiery right arm fast bowler for Yorkshire in 2001. He moved to Gloucestershire in 2005. Up to the end of the 2006 season he had taken 278 first class wickets in 76 matches at 30.01 and another 31 wickets in 37 one day games.
He was a vital part of Yorkshire's championship winning side in 2001 in his first season in the first class game and had a fairy tale start to his career. Called up after the match had started to replace a test bound Matthew Hoggard, Kirby skittled a startled Kent side to claim 7 for 50. His third game for Yorkshire thrust him into the fray against Leicestershire, his former employers who had sacked him without a first class appearance. Kirby won the match for Yorkshire with inspired match figures of 12 for 72. An aggressive red haired paceman he went on to take 47 championships wickets at 20.85 and his cutting edge and boundless hostility provided much of Yorkshire's cutting edge.
His belligerent personality has seen him in regular confrontations with opposing batsmen, and occasionally umpires. He is renowned as one of the best, if most obscure, 'sledgers' in the game. In dismissing Mike Atherton twice, in Atherton's last County Championship game, Kirby remarked that he had 'seen better players in my fridge'.
Like many cricketers who arrive with a bang, Kirby struggled to repeat his success in his second season, claiming just 37 wickets at 34 and 2004 brought only 31 wickets at 36 thanks in part to a nagging back problem. Yorkshire were disappointed to lose his services when Kirby sought pastures new and his choice of one day specialists Gloucestershire surprised many as the aggressive Kirby has long been thought more a four day performer.
