Cricket News
One cricketer from each country who deserves a statue
These eight cricketers have made the most significant contribution to their country’s cricket.
To have a statue built is one of the greatest honors in the life of a sportsperson. One needs to have done exceptionally well, not just in the sport but outside of it, to have his statue built. Cricket has many such players who deserve their own statues. In this list, we will look at eight cricketers from each country who derve a statue built to their name.
Sachin Tendulkar- India
Sachin Tendulkar (Image source: Twitter)
Sachin Tendulkar has defined cricket for millions in India and abroad. Although there are many other cricketers who have been role models for the countrymen, the sheer enormity of Sachin’s records puts him above and beyond everyone’s reach. The former batter has the most number of runs in Tests (15921) as well as ODIs (18426) to his name along with a plethora of other records that are simply impossible to be broke in modern-day cricket.
Ricky Pointing- Australia
Ricky Ponting (Image source: Twitter)
Cricket is a team sport; the idea behind the sport is to make one’s team win on the back of individual performances. This is where Ricky Pointing excelled in. The right-hand batter not just played exceptional cricket but also led his Australia team to three ODI World Cup Wins; the most by any captain in the history of the game. 27, 000 international runs and 71 centuries are just a cherry on top.
Sir Alastair Cook- England
Alastair Cook (Image source: Twitter)
While there are many celebrated English cricketers one that trumps them all with sheer numbers is Alastair Cook. The Gloucester-born cricketer rose to the pinnacle of English cricket playing the most number of Tests (161) and producing the most number of runs (12,472) with the most centuries (33).
Imran Khan- Pakistan
Imran Khan (Image source: Twitter)
Pakistan has produced many great cricketers through the years like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis but the one who trumps them all is Imran Khan. The right-arm pacer was the first lethal fast bowler in the country motivating generations of talent after him. The fearless allrounder took Pakistan to World Cup glory in 1992, their only win in the coveted tournament.
Jaques Kallis- South Africa
Jaques Kallis (Image source: Twitter)
South Africa hasn’t won any major trophy in their cricketing history but they could go head to head with any team when it comes to producing great cricketers. One player however who is head and shoulders above the rest is Jaques Kallis.
Kallis was the cricketer who everyone wants to be. A true all-rounder, Kallis batted with supreme confidence and bowled with a lethal pace. Kallis is the only player in the history of the game to score 10000 runs and take 250 wickets in ODIs as well as in Tests.
Sir Richard Hadlee- New Zealand
Richard Hadlee (Image source: Twitter)
New Zealand has produced some legendary cricketers like Kane Williamson, Daniel Vittori, Ross Tayloe, Stephen Fleming, and many others, but the one that is to date remembered as the best is Sir Richard Hadlee.
Known for his lethal pace deliveries, Hadlee achieved plenty of milestones in his 17-year career. In 83 Tests, he took 431 wickets, which was the highest at the time. He also has 36 five-wicket hauls to his name, the most by any fast bowling cricketer.
Muthiah Muralitharan- Sri Lanka
Muralitharan is the most successful bowler in the history of the entire game. With 1334 wickets to his name, the right-arm off-break bowler overshadows even the biggest names in the sport. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in Test (800) as well as ODIs (534). Muralitharan is certainly the one to be made a statue of, in Sri Lanka.
Sir Vivian Richards- West Indies
Vivian Richards (Image source: Twitter)
West Indies team is but a mere shadow of its former self when it thwarted the opposition with deadly pace and sensational batting. Vivian Richards was one such cricketer from the golden days of West Indies cricket. The fierce middle-order batter won the World Cup twice!
He also captained the West Indies side and famously never lost a series when captaining. The right-hand batter made 8540 runs including 26 centuries and three double centuries. He also made 6721 runs in ODIs playing at a strike rate of over 90.
