About Ian Austin

The Cricketer's Cricketer

The great Wasim Akram called him "the best death bowler I have ever seen." In the final of the 1998 NatWest Trophy, he produced a mesmerising display of bowling in a partnership which saw the Derbyshire innings collapse from 70 without loss to 108 all out.

Ian Austin became one of a very select few to be named man of the match in both one-day finals. Joining the illustrious company of the likes of Viv Richards and Asif Iqbal, when his name was called out The Guardian records the reaction:

"A very special cheer rang round the ... Lancashire supporters. It was as though the honour had not gone to one of their players, but to one of them. It was a reward for a very special kind of cricketing virtue."

Ian was named one of Wisden's 5 cricketers of 1999. A career that began with Lancashire in 1986 ended at the same club in 2003. In 1998 he made his international one day debut, and played in the 1999 World Cup. He retired a Lancashire legend with Lancashire secretary Dave Edmundson calling him "a cricketer's cricketer and a people's cricketer."

After retirement Ian turned his attention to sports memorabilia and music collectibles and is passionate about sourcing authentic sporting memorabilia for fans and collectors.

By fans. For fans. The UK's best value autographed memorabilia is at Sports Legends