Ryan McLaren (born 9 February 1983) is a former South African professional cricketer who represented South Africa across all three international formats. A left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler, he was an all-rounder valued for his utility with both bat and ball. He had an extensive county career in England in addition to his international appearances, and announced his retirement from first-class cricket in January 2019.
| Full name | Ryan McLaren |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 February 1983 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Batting style | Left-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm medium-fast |
| Role | All-rounder |
| International formats | Tests, ODIs, T20Is |
| Notable county | Lancashire (2017 season) |
| Retirement from first-class cricket | January 2019 |
McLaren developed as an all-round cricketer in South Africa, combining lower- to middle-order left-handed batting with right-arm medium-fast bowling. His skill set in both disciplines made him a regular option in limited-overs cricket and Test selection alike.
McLaren played for South Africa in all three international formats — Test matches, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals — making him one of the all-format cricketers of his generation for the country.
In addition to his career in South Africa, McLaren played extensively in English county cricket. He signed with Lancashire for the 2017 season, continuing a long association with English domestic cricket.
In January 2019, McLaren announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bringing to a close a career that had spanned international and domestic cricket in multiple countries.
As an all-rounder who featured for South Africa in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, McLaren occupied an important squad role during his international career. His simultaneous presence in English county cricket reflects the broader pattern of South African cricketers contributing to the county circuit.