Richard Gleeson is an English professional cricketer who became known for his impressive fast bowling and his unusual journey into international cricket. Unlike many professional players who enter the cricket system at a young age, Gleeson reached the highest level after spending years playing club cricket, coaching and working outside professional cricket.
He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who has mainly made his name in T20 cricket. His ability to bowl with pace, maintain accuracy and trouble batters with variations has helped him become a valuable short-format player.
Gleeson gained international attention after making his England T20I debut against India in 2022. His debut was especially memorable because he dismissed several leading Indian batters during his first international appearance.
Who Is Richard Gleeson?
Richard Gleeson is an English cricketer from Blackpool, Lancashire. His full name is Richard James Gleeson, and he was born on 2 December 1987. He is primarily a bowler and bats right-handed.
His journey to professional cricket was different from the traditional pathway. He spent a considerable part of his early adult life playing club cricket and working in other professions before getting an opportunity in county cricket.
He later represented Northamptonshire and Lancashire before earning an England call-up. His late rise has made his story particularly interesting among modern English cricketers.
Richard Gleeson Basic Information
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard James Gleeson |
| Known As | Richard Gleeson |
| Date of Birth | 2 December 1987 |
| Age | 38 Years |
| Birthplace | Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Profession | Cricketer |
| Playing Role | Bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Fast-Medium |
| International Team | England |
| International Format | T20I |
| T20I Debut | 2022 |
| Main Cricket Speciality | Fast Bowling |
| Major Domestic Teams | Northamptonshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire |
Richard Gleeson Age and Birth Details
Richard Gleeson was born on 2 December 1987 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. He is 38 years old in 2026. Growing up in Lancashire, he developed an interest in cricket and became associated with Blackpool Cricket Club.
His age at the time of his international debut was one of the most talked-about aspects of his career. He was already 34 when he received his opportunity with England, making his rise considerably later than the normal route followed by many international cricketers.
Richard Gleeson Education & Qualifications
Richard Gleeson has an educational background connected with sports and coaching. He studied Coaching and Sport Performance at the University of Cumbria.
His education helped him develop knowledge beyond playing cricket. Before establishing himself as a professional cricketer, he also worked in cricket development and coaching.
He obtained cricket coaching qualifications and spent time helping young players develop their skills. This experience gave him a strong understanding of the technical and practical side of the game.
Richard Gleeson Height, Weight and Physical Stats
Richard Gleeson has the physical build generally associated with a fast bowler. He is commonly listed at around 6 feet 1 inch or 185 cm tall.
His height gives him a useful release point and allows him to generate bounce from the surface. As a professional fast bowler, his athletic build and pace have been important parts of his bowling style.
| Physical Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Height | Approx. 6 feet 1 inch |
| Height in Centimetres | Approx. 185 cm |
| Weight | Not officially confirmed |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
| Eye Colour | Light/Hazel |
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Fast-Medium |
Richard Gleeson Family Background
Richard Gleeson was born and brought up in Blackpool, Lancashire. His early connection with local cricket played an important role in his development as a player.
He started playing cricket at club level and gradually progressed through different levels of the game. Unlike many players who receive professional contracts during their teenage years, Gleeson spent several years combining cricket with other professional activities.
Detailed information about his parents, siblings and wider family is not widely available in the public domain. Gleeson has generally kept his family life away from excessive media attention.
Richard Gleeson Jersey Number
Richard Gleeson has used different jersey numbers while representing various domestic and franchise teams.
| Team/Competition | Jersey Number |
|---|---|
| England | 71 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 11 |
| Lancashire | 11 |
| Northamptonshire | 33 |
| Franchise Cricket | Different numbers |
Jersey numbers can vary between teams, competitions and seasons, so his number has not remained the same throughout his career.
Richard Gleeson Religion and Caste
Richard Gleeson’s religion and caste have not been officially established through reliable public information. As he is an English cricketer, caste is not generally presented as a biographical category in the same way it may be discussed in Indian public profiles.
Therefore, specific claims about his religion or caste should not be treated as confirmed information unless Richard Gleeson himself or an authoritative source publicly confirms them.
Richard Gleeson Wife, Girlfriend and Relationships
Richard Gleeson is married to Laura Gleeson. His wife has been part of his personal support system during his rise from club cricket to international cricket.
Gleeson has generally maintained a private personal life and does not frequently share extensive details about his relationship in public. There is limited reliable information about any previous relationships or girlfriends.
His marriage and family life have remained relatively separate from his professional cricket career, allowing most public attention to remain focused on his performances.
Richard Gleeson Career Information
Richard Gleeson’s career is particularly interesting because professional cricket came to him later than expected. He played club cricket for Blackpool and also represented Cumberland before making the transition into professional county cricket.
He made his first-class debut for Northamptonshire in 2015. By then, he was already 27 years old. His performances gradually established him as a promising fast bowler.
His move to Lancashire provided another major opportunity. He developed into an effective limited-overs bowler and became particularly successful in T20 cricket.
His breakthrough season eventually helped him earn an England opportunity in 2022.
Richard Gleeson Cricket Stats
Richard Gleeson International Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 6 | 2 | 9 | 3/15 |
His international career consisted of six T20I appearances for England. He took nine wickets and recorded his best international bowling figures of 3/15.
Richard Gleeson First-Class Stats
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 34 |
| Wickets | 143 |
| Best Bowling | 6/43 |
| Five-Wicket Hauls | 10 |
| Ten-Wicket Hauls | 1 |
Richard Gleeson List A Stats
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 21 |
| Wickets | 28 |
| Best Bowling | 5/47 |
| Runs | 53 |
Richard Gleeson T20 Stats
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 145 |
| Wickets | 170 |
| Best Bowling | 5/33 |
| Five-Wicket Hauls | 1 |
| Runs | 67 |
His career statistics can change as he continues to participate in domestic and franchise competitions.
Richard Gleeson Cricket Career
Gleeson began his cricket journey through club cricket in Lancashire. His early association with Blackpool Cricket Club helped him develop as a bowler before he moved into minor-counties cricket.
He later represented Cumberland and continued improving his bowling. His performances eventually caught the attention of Northamptonshire, giving him the chance to enter professional county cricket.
His first-class debut came in 2015 against Australia. This was a major turning point because it opened the door to a professional career that had previously seemed unlikely.
After developing his skills at Northamptonshire, Gleeson moved to Lancashire. There, his T20 performances helped establish him as a specialist short-format bowler.
Richard Gleeson England Career
Richard Gleeson made his England T20I debut in July 2022 against India. His selection came after a strong period of domestic T20 cricket.
His international debut immediately attracted attention. He dismissed Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli, three of India’s most recognised batters, during his first appearance.
He finished that match with figures of 3 wickets for 15 runs. It was an outstanding introduction to international cricket and one of the most memorable aspects of his career.
Gleeson went on to play six T20Is for England and collected nine wickets.
Richard Gleeson Domestic Cricket Career
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire gave Gleeson his first major opportunity in professional cricket. He joined the county setup after spending years playing at club and minor-counties level.
His first-class debut came in 2015. He gradually became recognised for his pace and ability to bowl effective spells in limited-overs cricket.
Lancashire
Gleeson joined Lancashire in 2018 and became increasingly important to their limited-overs bowling attack.
His 2022 T20 campaign was particularly impressive. He collected 25 wickets in the Vitality Blast, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker.
His performance that season played a major role in bringing him into England’s T20 plans.
Franchise Cricket
Gleeson has also built a career in franchise cricket. He has participated in several T20 competitions around the world, including leagues in Australia, India, South Africa and other cricket-playing countries.
His franchise career has included appearances for teams such as Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Richard Gleeson IPL Career
Richard Gleeson has become associated with the Indian Premier League through his appearances for different franchises.
He was part of the Chennai Super Kings setup and later received an opportunity with Mumbai Indians. His IPL opportunities came as a result of his reputation as an experienced T20 fast bowler.
He subsequently joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a replacement player during the 2026 IPL season. His IPL journey demonstrates how his specialist T20 skills have continued to attract franchise interest.
Richard Gleeson Records and Achievements
| Record/Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| England Debut | T20I debut in 2022 |
| England Wickets | 9 T20I wickets |
| Best T20I Bowling | 3/15 |
| First-Class Wickets | 143 |
| T20 Wickets | 170 |
| Vitality Blast 2022 | 25 wickets |
| Vitality Blast Achievement | Leading wicket-taker |
| Best T20 Bowling | 5/33 |
| England Debut Highlight | Dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant |
| International Debut Age | 34 |
One of the most remarkable achievements of his career remains his rise to England after years of playing cricket outside the international spotlight.
Richard Gleeson Favourite Things
Richard Gleeson has not publicly disclosed a detailed list of all his favourite things. Some of his known professional interests can be summarised below.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Favourite Sport | Cricket |
| Preferred Role | Fast Bowling |
| Cricket Format | T20 |
| Main Skill | Pace Bowling |
| Academic Interest | Sports Performance |
| Professional Interest | Cricket Coaching |
| Hometown Connection | Blackpool |
Richard Gleeson Net Worth and Income Sources
Richard Gleeson’s exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. Different websites may provide estimated figures, but these should not be considered confirmed because professional contracts, bonuses, investments and personal earnings are generally private.
His major income sources have included county cricket contracts, England cricket payments, domestic T20 competitions and international franchise leagues.
His participation in the IPL has provided another important source of professional income. Franchise contracts can differ considerably depending on the player’s role, team requirements and replacement status.
| Income Source | Details |
|---|---|
| County Cricket | Professional playing contracts |
| England | International cricket earnings |
| IPL | Franchise contracts |
| Overseas T20 Leagues | League and franchise payments |
| The Hundred | Professional T20 earnings |
| Coaching | Earlier coaching and development work |
| Commercial Opportunities | Cricket-related activities and partnerships |
Richard Gleeson Social Media Presence
Richard Gleeson maintains a comparatively private public profile. Unlike some modern cricket stars, he has not built his entire public image around social media.
His professional career is mainly followed through cricket boards, franchise teams, tournament accounts and cricket media.
| Platform | Presence |
|---|---|
| Public cricket-related presence | |
| Cricket-related activity | |
| Limited public information | |
| Cricket Websites | Extensive professional coverage |
Fans should always check verification details before following an account claiming to represent Richard Gleeson.
Lesser-Known Facts About Richard Gleeson
- Richard Gleeson was born in Blackpool, Lancashire.
- Richard began playing first-team club cricket at a relatively young age.
- Gleeson played cricket for Blackpool Cricket Club.
- Richard Gleeson also represented Cumberland in minor-counties cricket.
- Richard studied Coaching and Sport Performance.
- Gleeson has a background in cricket coaching and development.
- Richard Gleeson worked outside professional cricket before becoming a county player.
- His first-class debut came at the age of 27.
- Richard made his England debut at the age of 34.
- His England debut came against India.
- Gleeson dismissed Rohit Sharma during his international debut.
- He also dismissed Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant in that match.
- He took 25 wickets in the 2022 Vitality Blast.
- He became the leading wicket-taker in that competition in 2022.
- He has played professional cricket for Northamptonshire and Lancashire.
- Richard Gleeson has developed a strong reputation in T20 cricket.
- He has played franchise cricket in several countries.
- Richard Gleeson has represented IPL franchises.
- His career is considered an example of a late rise to international cricket.
Conclusion
Richard Gleeson’s journey is one of the most unusual stories in modern English cricket. He did not follow the conventional path of entering professional cricket as a teenager and progressing directly through an academy system.
Instead, he spent years playing club cricket, working in different professions and developing his coaching skills before receiving his professional opportunity with Northamptonshire. His move to Lancashire then helped him establish himself as a specialist T20 bowler.
The biggest breakthrough came in 2022 when he made his England T20I debut at the age of 34. His three-wicket performance against India, including the dismissals of several major batters, immediately brought him international attention.
His subsequent involvement in franchise cricket has added another important chapter to his career. Richard Gleeson’s story shows that professional cricket careers can develop through different routes and that opportunities can sometimes arrive much later than expected.
FAQs
Who is Richard Gleeson?
Richard Gleeson is an English professional cricketer who specialises in right-arm fast-medium bowling and has represented England in T20I cricket.
How old is Richard Gleeson?
Richard Gleeson was born on 2 December 1987 and is 38 years old in 2026.
Where was Richard Gleeson born?
He was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.
Where was Richard Gleeson born?
He was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.
What is Richard Gleeson’s bowling style?
Richard Gleeson is a right-arm fast-medium bowler.
When did Richard Gleeson make his England debut?
He made his England T20I debut against India in July 2022.
How many wickets has Richard Gleeson taken for England?
He took 9 wickets in 6 T20I matches for England.
What are Richard Gleeson’s best international bowling figures?
His best T20I bowling figures are 3/15.
Who is Richard Gleeson’s wife?
Richard Gleeson’s wife is Laura Gleeson.
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