Ronnie Irani

Hailing from the mean streets of Leigh, Greater Manchester, Ronnie ‘Chicken Biryani’ Irani is the original, and only, northern Essex boy.

Leaving behind his hometown’s sleepy cobbled terraces, he followed the yellow brick road to find a place where the streets were paved with gold - but ended up settling for the boy racers and white stilettos of Essex instead.

Ronnie started his playing career with Lancashire before moving to Essex in 1994, spending 13 successful years there, being named captain in 2000. He made his international debut for England in 1996 and went on to make 31 one-day international appearances and play in three Tests.

After injury forced him to retire, he swapped his whites for a mic and is now Alan Brazil's partner in crime on Sports Breakfast.
 

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