Kabir Ali      

Full name Kabir Ali

Born November 24, 1980, Moseley, Birmingham, Warwickshire

Current age 29 years 1 days

Major teams England, England A, England NCA XI, Marylebone Cricket Club, Rajasthan, Worcestershire, Worcestershire Cricket Board

Nickname Kabby, Taxi

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium-fast

Height 6 ft 0 in

Education Moseley School, Wolverhampton University

Relation Cousin - Kadeer Ali, Cousin - MM Ali, Cousin - OM Ali

In December 2002, when England had lost the Ashes for the eighth series in a row and the onus was on finding new blood, the last thing the team needed was another poseur. Fortunately, Kabir Ali - Worcestershire seam bowler and part-time male model - leaves his pouting well behind when he sets foot on a cricket pitch. One of the 50 most eligible bachelors in Britain (according to Asian Woman & Bride magazine), Kabir bowls with strength and stamina, and hits the bat hard from just short of a length, albeit with a somewhat low-slung action. At a time when England fast bowlers were dropping like flies in Australia in 2002-03, Kabir's single-minded approach at the Adelaide Academy won him many friends - and promotion to the one-day squad. He made his debut the following summer, although he was not an instant success. His ODI bow was washed out before he had taken the field, while his solitary Test ended in a dispiriting defeat at Headingley, but England did not forget, and after earning a recall for the Champions Trophy in 2004, he went on to be one of England's few successes in a 4-1 series defeat in South Africa. He was the leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps, and overcame his jitters - and a no-ball that went for four - to secure a thrilling tie in the final over at Bloemfontein. Subsequent opportunities have been few and far between - although he did impress in phases in Pakistan and India the following winter. His one-day career appeared to have come to a stuttering halt after he went for more than 7 an over in two matches against Sri Lanka in 2006, and he was not selected for the subsequent series against Pakistan. The selectors finally appeared to have decided Ali was out of his depth in international cricket.
Andrew Miller October 2006

NBC Denis Compton Award 2000

Apr 16, 2009

Kabir Ali goes at full stretch to catch Liam Dawson

© Getty Images

Apr 16, 2009

Kabir Ali ends the resistance of David Balcombe

© Getty Images

Jul 15, 2008

Kabir Ali clean bowls Mark Wagh

© Getty Images

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