Richard Gleeson is an English professional cricketer who was best known for his right arm fast-medium bowling. He was born on 2nd December 1987 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England and had an unusual career in cricket having worked in another profession for part of his youth. His late entry at first-class level inevitably paved the way for county cricket, home T20 leagues, The Hundred and international cricket. Gleeson was especially known for his pace, bounce and skill to play the short format variations. England offered him a call-up when he was 34 and made his debut in the 2022 T20I series against Ireland.
Who is Richard Gleeson?

Richard Gleeson is a right arm fast-medium bowler, a former England international and domestic cricketer for Lancashire and Northamptonshire. He was a late bloomer as a professional cricketer as compared to many of the international cricketers.
His pace, hard lengths, movement, and variations make him a highly effective T20 bowler. Gleeson is a useful short form bowler because he can be a very useful bouncer and attack the stumps.
| Aspect | Details |
| Full Name | Richard James Gleeson |
| Nickname | Richard Gleeson |
| Profession | Professional Cricketer |
| Date of Birth | December 2, 1987 |
| Age (2026) | 38 Years |
| Birthplace | Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Playing Role | Bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| International Role | T20I Bowler |
| Marital Status | Not widely detailed publicly |
Richard Gleeson Age
Richard Gleeson was born on 2nd December 1987 in Blackpool. He is 38 years old in 2026.
Richard Gleeson Height and Physical Appearance
On the physical side, Richard Gleeson is around 6ft 1in (185cm) tall and is an athletic, well-built player with the physique of a fast bowler. It is estimated that his weight is about 85 kg (187 lbs), but this is not always reported on official cricket pages. Gleeson is a fast-medium bowler who requires strong, speed, flexibility and conditioning. He has a physique that demands a lot from his bowling and is more prone to fatigue, especially in T20 cricket.
Family Background
Richard Gleeson keeps his personal life private, and major cricket platforms offer few details about his parents and family.
What makes his cricket career stand out is that he wasn’t the usual type of player who would pass through the academy and into the professional ranks, like many high-quality Englishmen. Playing club cricket and the domestic game helped to propel him into a professional career.
Early Life, Education & Rise to Success.
Born in Lancashire, Gleeson was interested in the game of cricket from an early age. He has taken an unusual route to become a professional cricketer, having worked outside the game at an early age.
Gleeson was a club player and continued his development as a bowler before getting a big break with Lancashire. He made his first-class debut in 2016, at a much older age than most budding professionals.
Gleeson left Lancashire and played for Northamptonshire, where he became even more successful as a fast bowler. He gained more attention with his performances in limited-overs cricket.
His bowling then in T20 cricket eventually came back in T20 cricket and he also found a place in The Hundred and other competitions. This became a useful experience for him to prove that his speed and variation can work against high level batters.
Relationship Status
He does not talk about his relationships or family life very often in the media and is unlike many sports personalities. He primarily covers his largely overridden path into the pro game, his county career, England selection, and his T20 career.
Richard Gleeson Career
Lancashire
Gleeson made his first-class debut for Lancashire in 2016. This was a big step up for him, coming from a club cricket background.
He acquired much experience in the County Championship and limited-overs formats, but the quest for a permanent job in the England squad proved difficult for him in the face of the country’s huge pool of quick bowlers.
Northamptonshire
Gleeson then went on to join Northamptonshire and become a more mature professional bowler. His county cricket career, and especially his performances in limited-overs cricket, helped to raise his profile. He is a useful bowler in T20 and is able to bowl variations effectively at a pace.
The Hundred
The Hundred brought an extra boost to Gleeson’s profile. Competition provided him with a chance to play against the top domestic and international batsmen in a hi-profile short format. His performances proved that he’d got the experience and the style to bowl in the T20 format.
England career
Gleeson’s breakthrough for England was in 2022. He was recently named in England’s 2020-21 squad for their home series against India and played his first ODI against him in July 2022.
Gleeson was the oldest player to make his debut for England in the modern white-ball era, at the age of 34. He was chosen for this club after years of county cricket, which was unusual given his early career in the club.
He then joined England’s bigger T20 squad and picked up some experience with the likes of England’s top bowlers.
Franchise Cricket
Gleeson also had his first taste of franchise cricket with his performances. He has played in T20s outside England so has experience in other conditions and against international players.
His pace and variations make him an ideal fit for leagues that demand specialist T20 bowlers.
Career Highlights
| Stage | Details |
| Club cricket | Developed through Lancashire club cricket |
| First-class debut | Lancashire, 2016 |
| County career | Represented Lancashire and Northamptonshire |
| The Hundred | Gained recognition in high-profile short-format cricket |
| England debut | T20I debut against India in 2022 |
| International breakthrough | Reached England at age 34 |
| Bowling role | Right-arm fast-medium |
| T20 cricket | Developed into a specialist short-format bowling option |
Richard Gleeson Stats
| Format | Period | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Bowling Average | Runs | Batting Average | Strike Rate | Catches | Run Outs |
| T20I | 2022 | 6 | 9 | 8.90 | 20.8 | 2 | 1.0 | 50.0 | 4 | 0 |
| IPL | 2024–25 | 3 | 2 | 9.71 | 55.0 | 2 | — | 100.0 | — | — |
| First-class | 2015–20 | 34 | 143 | 3.31 | 21.4 | 259 | 11.3 | 34.1 | 8 | 0 |
| List A | 2016–18 | 21 | 28 | 5.82 | 29.1 | 53 | 6.6 | 42.1 | 3 | 1 |
| T20 | 2016– | 137 | 162 | 8.02 | 22.8 | 57 | 3.6 | 68.7 | 27 | 6 |
Interesting Facts
- Gleeson made his debut for Australia at the age of 34.
- He had a much longer route to professional cricket than most England internationals.
- He played club cricket in Lancashire.
- He was a debutant for first-class Lancashire in 2016.
- He went on to play for Northamptonshire.
- His variability and speed has made him an ideal fit for T20 cricket.
- He played T20 international cricket for England.
- He made his debut for England in 2022 against India.
- He is an example of a late bloomer in the game of cricket.
- He has also acquired experience in high-profile T20 domestic and franchise competitions.
Richard Gleeson Net Worth
As the net worth is estimated based on secondary estimates, and the details have not been officially confirmed, Richard Gleeson is estimated to have a net worth of around ₹13 crore ($1.6 million) in 2026. He has got the bulk of his income from professional cricket which includes international match fee, T20 franchise gigs across the globe and domestic contracts. Gleeson has been on the move this year, having been signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the IPL 2026 season for a whopping ₹1.6 crore as replacement player, apart from various other tournaments like Pakistan Super League, SA20 and The Hundred.
Social Media Presence
Gleeson has a relatively subdued presence on social media. His digital footprint is primarily linked to cricket, encompassing match reports, training updates, team engagements, and career achievements.
- Instagram: @rgleeson33 (47K followers)
- Twitter: @rgleeson33 (3.6K followers)
Recent Updates
Richard Gleeson’s career is still mostly tied up in professional T20 and domestic cricket up until the year 2026. His journey is an unusual one to international cricket and it continues to draw interest. This trajectory shows that young players can become great cricketers without the benefit of long-term involvement in standard academies. His ability to play at pace, experience and his T20 skills are his signature qualities as a player.
Conclusion
Richard Gleeson’s cricket career is something of a late-bloomer and a case of perseverance. Gleeson played club cricket for years before making a step up to first class and eventually the England team — unlike many international players who spent their teenage years playing in elite academies.
It was an outstanding performance when he debuted in T20I at the age of 34 in 2022 for England. His right arm fast-medium bowling, pace, bounce and variations have proved to be of particular value in shorter formats.
In 2026, Gleeson will be in his 38th year of a career that has always focused on professional opportunities. His transition from Lancashire club cricket to county cricket, to The Hundred, to franchise cricket and to England is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence and resilience.
FAQs
A1. Richard Gleeson is an English professional cricketer and right arm fast-medium bowler, who has played in 20 international T20 cricket games for England.
A2. He is 38 years old in 2026
A3. He made his debut in the T20I format against India in July 2022 in England.
A4. He has featured for Lancashire and Northamptonshire and in The Hundred and other T20 formats.
A5. He is a right arm fast medium bowler who is known for his pace, bounce, hard lengths and T20 variations.
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