Although primarily a one day player at international level, he had strong success in the County Championship and had a first class high score of 366.

Cricket writer, Colin Bateman, described Fairbrother as "an inventive, intelligent left-hander".

[2] Another milestone came in 1998, when he became the first man to play in ten Lord's one-day domestic cricket cup finals.

Bowled for a duck on his debut, he made just ten Test appearances for England, with only one half-century from 15 innings, at an average of 15.64.

[1] However, his international honours included appearing for England in three Cricket World Cups.