Steve Kirby is a highly competitive right-arm fast bowler who burst upon the scene in 2000, when it looked like his chance of county honours was on the point of passing him by in favour of his other trade, selling industrial flooring. Discarded by Leicestershire without playing a single first-class game, Kirby took seven wickets on his Yorkshire debut in 2001. His third match saw him pitted against his former employers, Leicestershire, and the heroics continued as he recorded match figures of 12 for 72. Kirby went on to play a vital role in Yorkshire's championship-winning side, taking 47 first-class wickets at just over 20 apiece. This performance earned him a place in the first England Academy squad, based in Australia in November 2001.

Kirby is a fiery character on the field, remarkable for his gestures and occasionally colourful utterances, which have come close to getting him into trouble with umpires. His often surreal sledging has already made it into cricket folklore. He once famously remarked to Mike Atherton that he had seen better players in his fridge. Kirby had the last word in this exchange in more ways than one, dismissing Atherton in both innings of what transpired to be his last championship game.

Since 2001, he struggled to produce the same form. In 2004, he claimed only 31 wickets for Yorkshire at an average of more than 36, after suffering with a niggling back problem. He left Yorkshire at his own request at the end of the 2004 season, and was promptly signed by Gloucestershire. At Gloucestershire, Kirby has taken wickets regularly without threatening to make the step-up to international level and moved to Division One side Somerset at the end of the 2010 season for one final crack at pushing national selection.
Cricinfo staff September 2010