Ian Ward

Who is Ian Ward?

Ian James Ward is a former English cricketer. He was a left-handed opening batsman and an occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler.

Having played for Surrey in 1992 and then been released, he was taken back on the staff in 1997, and was an integral part of the side who won the championship three times between 1999-2002. He moved to Sussex in 2003, still keen to receive a recall to the England squad.

Ward played five Tests for England in the 2001 summer against Pakistan and Australia. After a promising debut innings of 39 against Pakistan he subsequently failed to impress, betraying obvious technical problems which were quickly exploited by the Australian attack. He was duly dropped after three Tests of the Ashes series, never to return to international cricket.

Ward retired from first-class cricket in 2005 to pursue a career as a full-time cricket presenter and commentator, having worked for Sky Sports for the previous two winters.

Ward is now an integral part of the Sky Sports cricket presenting team. Over the 2013 Ashes coverage he anchored the "Ashes Zone", returning to his professional experience as a batsman, demonstrating cricket shots, bowling techniques and field placings. His in-depth analysis won acclaim from counter parts in the media.