Hailing from Londonderry, Craig Young is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. Known for hitting the deck hard and for his ability to trouble the batters with his pace, Young first gained attention with a remarkable performance of 5 for 22 against Guernsey in the 2009 European U-19 Championships. This outstanding display led to his selection for the 2010 U-19 World Cup, where he took 9 wickets in 5 matches, establishing himself as one of Ireland's finest young bowlers.
In 2010, he secured a one-year contract with Sussex, but injuries hampered his progress. He made his first-class debut for Ireland against Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup in September 2013, earning a national call-up. Early the following year, a few months after his release from Sussex, Craig Young was awarded an 'A' category contract with Ireland, the highest level of national cricket contract.
Young's ODI debut later in 2014 against Scotland was stellar, with a five-wicket haul to become the ninth bowler to take 5 or more wickets on ODI debut. Rewarded for his performances, Young was picked up in Ireland's squad for the 2015 World Cup. However, he warmed the bench there throughout.
After the showpiece event, Young went on to make his T20 debut against the same European rival, Scotland. He could not make the shortest format his own straightway, but selectors knew he had enough talent to succeed and called him up for the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.
Young was named in the Test squad for the one-off Tests against Pakistan and England in 2018 and 2019, respectively, but could not get an opportunity to make his debut. A year later, in 2020, he was one of nineteen players to be awarded a central contract from Cricket Ireland, marking the first year that all contracts were granted on a full-time basis. He has since been a regular member of the Irish setup in both white-ball formats.
Young’s moment in the sun came in 2024 when he was handed his maiden Test cap during the one-off Test against Afghanistan. Through 2 wickets in the first inning and 3 in the second inning, Young contributed effectively to Ireland’s maiden Test win.
