Gloucestershire ace Kirby can be an international – Franklin

Gloucestershire seamer James Franklin believes county team-mate Steve Kirby has matured with age.

The New Zealand star, who is returning to Nevil Road next summer, believes Kirby is the unluckiest bowler in county cricket.

Kirby topped Gloucestershire CCC's championship bowling averages with 64 wickets at an outstanding 22.18 average this year and was also the outstanding bowler in Twenty20 cricket with 14 wickets at 15.28.

But the former Yorkshire paceman is still waiting to make his England debut after nearly a decade as a first-class cricketer.

"Steve Kirby's got a big heart and you only have to look at his figures this summer to realise how well he's bowled," Franklin told the Post.

"He's 32 and he's at his peak as a bowler.

"There's no way anyone can tell me he's too old and nobody's bowled better than Steve this year.

"He's been incredibly unlucky not to play for England by now, but the way he's bowling, he's still got a future in international cricket."