Today’s article will honor these famous cricketers who’ve earned a spot in the hearts of fans for their passion and electrifying performances. These giants of the sport that we’ll be discussing throughout include;
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Don Bradman
- Shoaib Akhtar
- Brian Lara
- Ian Botham
- Chris Gayle
- Shahid Afridi
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the best cricket betting sites, or a newcomer to the sport, this feature will teach you everything you need to know regarding the greatest cricketers of all time. Let’s begin!
Sachin Tendulkar
We can think of no better place to begin our ultimate list of famous cricket players than by focusing on Sachin Tendulkar. Lovingly nicknamed by fans as the ”Master Blaster” and ”Little Blaster”, Sachin Tendulkar was a former international cricketer for India who has been hailed as India’s God of Cricket.
He came from humble origins in Mumbai to becoming one of the richest and most famous cricketers through hard work, a story that resonates with many Indian fans. During the peak of his career, Tendulkar wasn’t just the captain for the Indian national cricket team, he also held the distinct record for most runs scored in international cricket history.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, he is also the only player who’s scored 100 international centuries. Certainly, not a man to do anything by halves, he also maintains the prestigious record for the most runs scored in one-day international test cricket.
Throughout his long, illustrious career he has been bestowed with endless honors and accolades for his performances and was named one of Time Magazine’s ‘Most Influential People in the World’ back in 2010 and has inspired several documentaries about his life.
Don Bradman
Lovingly referred to as ‘The Don’ by fans and commentators alike, Sir Donald George Bradman was an international cricketer born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1908. His legendary prowess and batting expertise have led to him often being acknowledged as one of the best batsmen of all time.
He first kick-started his career by playing for several small, local teams, what Australian fans refer to as a ‘bush cricketer’, before rising to a national level in a span of two short years and playing for the Australian Test team. Throughout his career, he maintained an unprecedented batting average of 99.94.
By the time he was 22 years old, he had already smashed several world records, no easy feat by any means. His skill and passion led to him breaking records for points scoring and earned him a reputation as the most famous cricketer in Australia. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2000, but nine years later he was posthumously accepted into the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Hall of Fame.
Shoaib Akhtar
Imagine a bowler coming at you with everything they have, ready to hurl a cricket ball so fast that it would make your head spin. Known as the ‘Pindi Express’ and the ‘Terrarest of Cricket’, Shoaib Akhtar is often regarded as one of the fastest and most feared bowlers in history, and is a living legend of Pakistani cricket.
Such was the fearsome reputation and speed of his bowling that it shattered the psyche of many great batsmen. To hammer just how terrifying his deadly pace and bounce was to batters, Akhtar is one of only three bowlers who’ve ever managed to break the 100 mph barrier with their serves in all of cricket’s history.
In a 2003 World Cup fixture against England, he served a bowl that was measured at a breathless 101.3 mph, which to date stands as the fastest recorded bowl ever. Furthermore, he also holds the world record for playing the highest number of Test and ODI matches. A true delight to watch, he inspired a consistent sense of awe throughout his remarkable career.
Brian Lara
Widely regarded as one of the most famous cricket players that ever lived, Brian Lara was also praised for being one of the greatest batsmen to ever grace the field. In his formative years, he was also renowned for being an exceptional table tennis player, however, the call to the cricket pitch would thankfully win out in the end.
By the young age of 20, he was remarkably chosen to be the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team’s captain, the youngest player to ever lead the Trinidad and Tobago team. A left-handed batsman, he was affectionately named ‘The Prince’ by his legions of fans and still holds several cricket world records.
He first garnered attention in 1987 when scored an unbelievable 498 runs during the West Indies Youth Championship. A staple of any cricket greats ranking list worth its salt, Lara holds the record for highest individual score in first-class ticket after scoring an epic, storybook total of 400 points not out against England at Antigua in 2004.
Ian Botham
Perhaps more of a household name to our UK readers, Ian Botham is undoubtedly one of the greatest all-rounders ever to ever compete in the world of cricket. He was beloved by fans and feared by foes for his aggressive, ferocious yet undeniable talents and became an English national treasure during his career, so much so that he was knighted in 2007.
Integral to the rise of British cricket, his outstanding performances helped English cricket hold its own against the glories and glamor of great footballers and teams in the 70s and 80s and helped British cricket experience a renaissance in popularity, inspiring an entirely new generation of players.
He essentially became a cricket superstar overnight thanks to his heroic performance in the 1981 Ashes, to the extent that many British cricket fans today refer to the legendary fixture as ‘Botham’s Ashes’. He, like Don Bradman, was also inducted into the ICC’s Cricket Hall of Fame.in 2009. These days he can be found as a cherished commentator for English cricket coverage on major international tournaments.
Chris Gayle
No list of the most famous cricketers of all time would be complete without mentioning the imitable, Chris Gayle. Gayle started playing cricket as a kid in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica before joining the big leagues and making a name for himself internationally. He’s often considered to be one of the greatest batsmen in twenty 20 cricket.
A left-hand batter yet a tremendous all-rounder, Gayle holds the honor of being the most capped player for the West Indies2, leading the team from 2007 until 2010. He was esteemed for his wonderful agility, mesmerizing hand-eye coordination, and breakneck speeds.
He was the first batter in Twenty20 cricket history to hit 1,000 sixes in a single match, as well as being the first player to ever score a triple hundred in test cricket, and a double hundred in One-Day international cricket. In April 2017, he became the first cricketer to score 10,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi, otherwise known as ‘Boom Boom Afridi’, is one of the most famous Pakistani cricketers to ever live. Known for being an exceptional all-rounder and for his aggressive batting style, he holds the record for hitting the most number of sixes in ODI cricket history. He also happens to be the only cricketer to slap 400 sixes in the game’s history.
His debut into the Pakistani ODI squad at the age of just 16-years old led to a massive media circus and speculations about his real age. Afridi’s entire career illustrates one of the most enigmatic, eccentric, and exceptional cricket careers ever. The aura and mystique that Afridi brought to cricket will always remain unsurpassed and has earned him a massive international fan base.
Genius, as they say, isn’t without its fair share of controversy and Alfridi’s unique career has certainly contained contentious moments. He was caught deliberately scuffing up the pitch in a Test game against England in 2011 and was fired as captain of the Pakistani team in 2011 after clashes with the coach, Wagar Younis. Despite this, however, he retired five times in his career and returned four times, much to the amusement of fans.
Whilst no longer competing today, his status as an innovator and crowd-pleaser will keep him in the same breath as many of the sport’s greatest players for decades to come.
Final Thoughts
The phenomenal athletes that we’ve covered in this feature have had iconic careers that have resonated throughout the ages and have made them household names. However, remarkable achievements continue to be made every day by this generation’s most famous cricketers and you can always keep your eye on their accomplishments by visiting our top picks for the world’s best sports betting sites.
If you’ve enjoyed this article, we warmly invite you to check out some of our other insightful guides for some fresh new perspectives. Likewise, if you’re primarily interested in other forms of gambling, such as slots, online poker, and roulette, we’ve got you covered also! Best of luck out there!
