Tall and muscular, Kyle Jarvis is equipped with raw pace. The son of former Zimbabwe player, Malcolm Jarvis, Jarvis was the chief strike bowler for Zimbabwe at the Under-19 World Cup in 2008, and was fast-tracked into the national side after the appointment of Heath Streak as bowling coach. Jarvis was blooded in the home series against Kenya, and in this and subsequent one-day series in Bangladesh and South Africa, he impressed many with his pace, touching 145kph at times. He lacked control, however, and tended to be expensive, although he continued to pick up wickets. Jarvis made his first-class debut in an Intercontinental Cup game against Kenya in October 2009, and took 6 for 60 in his first Logan Cup game for the Mashonaland Eagles. Jarvis was included in Zimbabwe's squad for the tour of the West Indies in 2009-10, but withdrew from the tour with a stress fracture of the lower back. A keen sportsman, he has also played rugby for the Zimbabwe U-19s. His comeback to international cricket coincided with Zimbabwe's return to the Test fold. He debuted in his country's first Test in almost six years, which was against Bangladesh in Harare in August 2011.

Expectations of a successful international career were shelved when he quit Zimbabwe cricket two years later to play county cricket. He said his international retirement was spurred on by a salary dispute with the board in August 2013 that forced the players to briefly go on strike and set up a union. His destination was Lancashire and, after an unproductive first season, he rediscovered much of his menace the following season, taking 62 Championship wickets as Lancashire won promotion and on course to be the division's leading wicket-taker until a broken hand prematurely ended his season. He stood up well to first division life, too, in 2016, leading Lancashire's wickets tally once more with 51 and described by his coach, Ashley Giles, as "lethal" as his six wickets against Surrey briefly shot Lancashire to the top of the table.

ESPNcricinfo staff