In the world of professional cricket, where most players are groomed from their teenage years, Richard Gleeson’s story stands as a testament to perseverance, resilience, and the power of never giving up on your dreams. At an age when many cricketers contemplate retirement, Gleeson was just getting started on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
On December 2, 1987, Richard John Gleeson was born in Blackpool, Lancashire and he took a different path to become an internationally known cricketer. Whereas most professional cricketers stand out by age twenty, Mitch Gleeson took a different and encouraging route to success.
At 6’1” tall and sporting hazel blue eyes and golden brown hair, Gleeson is ready for fast bowling. Nonetheless, his way to playing professional cricket was not easy.
Gleeson had several part-time jobs before he made cricket his main source of income. During those years, he was employed in a boiler factory, sold fishing gear and also became a landscape gardener. The varied work he did shaped his determination and effort, which would later influence his cricket achievements.
The Late Start: Breaking into County Cricket
Gleeson didn’t begin playing professional cricket until late in his career. Although he was only 27 years old, and many cricketers are in their top form then, Hussain was continuing to play minor counties with Cumberland while holding a full-time job as a cricket coach for the Lancashire Cricket Board.
It was on August 15, 2015, when the young Kusal Mendis achieved his first-class debut with Northamptonshire, playing against Australian touring teams. During the match, he proved his skill by removing both Shaun and Mitchell Marsh from the field.
At first, Gleeson joined Northamptonshire for individual games and later impressed the officials, getting a three-year contract with the club in July 2016. As a result, he got started on his career as a professional cricketer.
Rising Through the Ranks
Gleeson’s development went on when he was picked for Twenty20 cricket by the Rangpur Riders in the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League.
His talent became noticed by the end of 2018 and he changed counties from Northamptonshire to Lancashire close to the end of the season. Coming back to the county where he used to coach, he wondered if he could ever stand out in professional cricket.
The Act of Recovery
Much like other sports stories, Gleeson faced many challenges. When the England team selected him for their enlarged squad in 2020 and the Lions went on tour to Australia, he got a stress fracture in his back when he got back to county cricket.
The next year, he suffered the same injury, putting his future in cricket at risk. Gleeson did not give up but became more adaptable instead. Last year, he joined Lancashire on a T20 contract and continued to teach part-time at Myerscough College in Preston.
Finally Living the Dream: Singer’s International Debut
The most significant phase of his story began in July 2022. Following an excellent start to the T20 Blast with Lancashire, where he took his fifth five-wicket haul in T20 on May 29, 2022, against Worcestershire, Brodrick was chosen for England’s T20 International squad for the home series with India.
On July 9, 2022, at the age of 34, Gleeson finally made his international debut for England in a T20I match against India at Birmingham. What followed was nothing short of spectacular—he dismissed Indian cricket superstars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant within his first eight balls, finishing with figures of 3/15.
It was an extraordinary international debut by any standard, but especially remarkable considering Gleeson’s age and unconventional path to international cricket. His performance validated his perseverance and proved that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.
Playing Style and Strengths
Gleeson is primarily known as a right-arm fast-medium bowler who excels in T20 cricket. His bowling arsenal features aggressive, full-length deliveries and masterful yorkers under pressure. He has consistently shown splendid economy levels, often keeping his economy rate under six runs per over in pressure situations.
The fact that he can remain relaxed and perform well under pressure makes him very important in shortened games. Even though he doesn’t score a lot, his key job is to bowl, not bat.
T20 Franchise Career
Following his impressive performances in domestic cricket and later for England, Gleeson became a sought-after player in T20 leagues around the world.
His T20 career spans multiple teams and leagues:
- Chennai Super Kings (Indian Premier League)
- Delhi Bulls
- Durban’s Super Giants
- Gulf Giants
- Manchester Originals (Men’s Hundred)
- London Spirit (Men’s Hundred)
- Melbourne Renegades (Big Bash League)
- Peshawar Zalmi
- Rangpur Riders (Bangladesh Premier League)
- Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SA20)
This extensive franchise experience has not only enhanced his skills but also proven his value as a T20 specialist on the global stage.
Richard Gleeson’s Career Statistics Highlight
As of early 2025, Gleeson’s international career, though starting late, showcases impressive performances:
- In T20 Internationals: 9 wickets in 6 matches with an economy rate of 8.90 and a best bowling figure of 3/15
- In First-class cricket: 143 wickets in 34 matches at an average of 21.34
- In List A cricket: 28 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 29.14
- In T20s overall: 129 wickets in 115 matches at an average of 23.76
His T20 bowling record is particularly impressive across various leagues, with 74 wickets in the Vitality Blast, 19 wickets in the SA20, and 11 wickets each in the Men’s Hundred and ILT20.
Richard Gleeson’s Personal Life
When he is not playing the game, Gleeson enjoys happiness outside work. Laura Gleeson and he tied the knot on September 26, 2020 and are now parents to two boys. He also has another sister.
Gleeson likes to dance and play video games in his spare time. He is not a vegetarian and absolutely loves pizza from Domino’s. Similar to many adults, he can sometimes drink alcohol with friends and family.
Alongside his career in sport, Gleeson studied at the University of Cumbria, United Kingdom, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Life Lessons from Richard Gleeson’s Journey
Richard Gleeson’s cricket journey offers several valuable life lessons that extend beyond the boundary ropes:
- It’s Never Too Late to Chase Your Dreams: Making his international debut at 34, Gleeson proves that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing your passion.
- Perseverance Pays Off: Despite numerous setbacks, including serious injuries and the late start to his professional career, Gleeson never gave up.
- Adaptability is Key: From working multiple jobs to balancing cricket with teaching, Gleeson has shown remarkable adaptability throughout his career.
- Specialize in Your Strengths: By focusing on T20 cricket later in his career, Gleeson was able to maximize his impact and extend his playing days.
- Hard Work Beats Early Advantage: While many of his peers had the benefit of early academy training and development programs, Gleeson’s hard work and determination allowed him to not just catch up but excel at the highest level.
Looking Ahead
Richard Gleeson is still representing England and playing for different T20 franchises in 2025, at the age of 37. His latest outing was with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 league in February 2025.
Gleeson’s unique role as a T20 bowler could help him play for a period longer than usual. His abilities and background mean he could be a great resource, not just for playing, but also for mentoring and coaching the next generation of speed bowlers.
Final thoughts
Richard Gleeson proves that dedication, resilience and believing in oneself can make anyone reach the top, even when others expect them to fail. Unlike many young standouts in his sport, Gleeson became famous through dedication and hard work.
What’s remarkable about his story is moving from small local coaching to dismissing some of the world’s top batsmen in an England shirt.
We learn from it that sometimes things don’t go smoothly and that you can always work toward your dreams later in life. Whatever the future holds for Richard, his story will always teach us: wait for the right moment, follow your journey and always keep pursuing your deepest desires.
