Born in Derry, Rankin is a tall bowler who stands at 6 ft 8 inches and has a distinctive bouncing action in his bowling.
Rankin revealed in an interview that his action is modelled on bowlers like Curtly Ambrose and Glenn McGrath who "hit the deck from just back of a length outside off stump".
[1] He studied agriculture at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire, during which time he worked on his batting technique.
With few prospects of a return to the England team, Rankin confirmed in December 2015 that he would commit to playing for Ireland in the upcoming 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
In an interview, Rankin stated that he chose to join Middlesex "because of the Irish connection, with Ed Joyce and (Eoin) Morgan there, I wanted to be some place where I knew a few faces".
He was contracted to play in the controversial Indian Cricket League for the Kolkata Tigers;[16] fellow Irishman, Niall O'Brien also participated in the tournament.
Giles commented that "[Rankin]'s got great attributes – he's tall, he can bowl fast, the ball bounces from nowhere ... We've just got to keep him fit".
[23] Having generally come on as first or second change bowler for Warwickshire in 2008,[24] at the start of the 2009 season Rankin was entrusted with the new ball and opened the bowling with Chris Woakes.
[25] In July 2019, he was selected to play for the Belfast Titans in the inaugural edition of the Euro T20 Slam cricket tournament.
In Ireland's second game of the 2007 ICC World Cup, Rankin took 3/32 to bowl Pakistan out for 132 and win the match, causing a major upset.
A stress fracture of the fibula forced Rankin to miss ODIs against India and South Africa in 2007 which Ireland lost.
[33] In October 2008, Rankin playing in the Intercontinental Cup against Namibia; finished with match figures of 7/72, with 5/39 in the second innings as Ireland secured an eight run win.
[42] In January 2010, Rankin sustained a stress fracture to his right foot which forced him to miss Ireland's tour of Sri Lanka.
A side made up of some of the best players from Associate and Affiliate teams was put together to face England in Dubai in January 2012.
After performing impressively in several short-format games, Rankin was selected for England's test squad touring Australia in 2013–2014.
Subsequent opportunities, however, proved elusive and Rankin confirmed at the end of 2015 that he would once again make himself available for the Irish national team.
[48][49] Rankin took Ireland's first wicket in Tests, dismissing Pakistan's Azhar Ali, who was caught by William Porterfield at second slip.
[57] In September 2019, he was named in Ireland's squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.