Early career Kirby started his career when he left school at the age of 16, initially on a
YTS scheme at
Leicestershire County Cricket Club having been discovered in his native Lancashire. While at Leicestershire he had to overcome
sacroiliac instability, a chronic bad back, remodelling his action to learn to bowl fast again, but the county released him after five seasons without making an appearance.
Yorkshire Kirby spent the summer of 2000 playing in the Lancashire and Ribblesdale League while working as a
lino salesman for West Cotes Flooring in Leicestershire, at the age of 24 he had written to
Stephen Oldham director of
Yorkshire County Cricket Club's academy asking for a chance to resurrect his cricket career. His third match saw him face his old county Leicestershire, again Kirby was instrumental in Yorkshire's innings victory with match figures of 12 for 72. By the end of the season, Kirby had taken 47 wickets at 20.85 and played an instrumental role in Yorkshire becoming County Champions for the first time in 33 years. The 2002 season saw Kirby back up his debut season with 37 wickets at an average of 34.10, but Kirby's best season came in 2003 when his 67 first-class wickets at 26.40 in 2003 suggested Kirby was capable of performing at the highest level.
Gloucestershire Following his release from Yorkshire, Kirby joined
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club ahead of the
2005 season. His first season with Gloucestershire saw him take 45 wickets at an average of 26.00, His consistent performances over the next couple of seasons saw him earn a recall to the
England Lions squad for the tour of the India in the winter of 2007–2008. His impressive performances in 2009 with 64 wickets at an average of 22.18,
Somerset At the end of the 2010 season, Kirby left Gloucestershire for West Country rivals
Somerset signing a three-year contract with the County Championship Division One side. Before linking up with his new county Kirby was involved in the MCC squad for the
Champion County match taking 5 for 29, before his match was ended with a foot injury. He played in the fixture on four occasions. The season again saw Kirby limited to just 10 first-class matches due to injury despite this he took 26 wickets at an average of 35.11. Having suffered complications from ankle surgery over the 2013 winter, Kirby required a second operation in six months in April 2014 this time on his shoulder, which led to him missing the start of the 2014 season. On 22 July 2014, Kirby announced his retirement from first-class cricket with immediate effect, following further complications from his ongoing shoulder injury while playing in a second XI game. ==Personality==