A right-handed opening batsman, Virgin had a mostly solid but unspectacular career in first-class cricket, except for two individual seasons, one for each of his two counties, during which he looked as good as any opening batsman in county cricket and was mentioned as a possible Test player.
Revealing a wider range of shots than before, he scored fast and prolifically, with 2,223 runs at an average of 47 in the season, including seven centuries.
He was talked of as a possible England opener and was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in the 1971 edition of the almanack.
Virgin had to wait half a season before he could make his County Championship debut in 1973 for Northamptonshire and then he had limited success.
Virgin was appointed captain of Northamptonshire in 1975, but resigned in August, saying that the captaincy was affecting his batting.