Greatest Characters in Cricket

[aussie tragic]

Over and above their cricketing ability, who are/were the biggest characters in the game that kids wanted to be and crowds flocked to see?

Please give a name and a short reason why. I’ll start with an oldie.

Doug Walters

Forget elite athletes, he was a typical Aussie bloke that loved a beer, smoked like a chimney and loved cards and horse racing. He rarely trained and was famous for staying out late drinking, apparently during matches as well. On the cricket side, he made a century on debut as a 19-year old, then followed it up with another century in his 2nd test. He was an aggressive batsman that scored a hundred in a session three times.

I wish I could have been like Doug Walters, however his approach didn’t seem to work for me; It seemed to work for Mark Waugh though

 

[Burgey]

Some who spring to mind (largely an Aussie perspective) and in no particular order:

Lillee
Marsh
Merv Hughes
Funky Miller
Keith Miller
Skull
Darren Gough
Freddy
AB
Boony

Personally, I reckon Inzamam's a great character. Scarcely can there ever have been a poorer runner between wickets who has been dismissed in so many hilarious circumstances, largely of his own making, yet who looks so aggrieved when he's out. Priceless.

 

[Dravid]

Miandad...I don't think I need to say why.

 

[Kweek]

AD
:bow:

 

[andmark]

For modern players it would have to be monty.

 

[Jono]

Freddy's an obvious one. Anyone who can show his face in public like how he was after the Ashes (when he drunk himself crazy) is clearly a character

 

[Dravid]

Can we select umpires? If so, then I would like to nominate Darrell Hair

 

[archie mac]

I agree re-Doug Walters

In the 1950s all the English boys wanted to be Dennis Compton except those from Yorkshire who wanted to be Len Hutton

 

[Dravid]

NS Sidhu is another one that comes to mind. Funniest person Indian cricket produced imo.

 

[open365]

Monty is a great character and so is Freddy. Boycott aswell.

What about the Sri-Lankan physio?

 

[Kweek]

I know Sri Lanka got Trevor Gripper ex-zimbabwe, don't know who the physio is though ?

 

[Xuhaib]

Monty is a great character and so is Freddy. Boycott aswell.

What about the Sri-Lankan physio?

 

[silentstriker]

No one filled the stands like Tendulkar.

 

[open365]

I know Sri Lanka got Trevor Gripper ex-zimbabwe, don't know who the physio is though ?

Not sure of his name(which adds to the mystery of his character) but he sprints on and off the field.

Copme to think of it, he's not that good...ah well...

 

[aussie tragic]

No one filled the stands like Tendulkar.

Yeah but that was for cricket ability, off-cricket he's pretty average

 

[aussie tragic]

David Boon (as stolen from a google search)

Nicknamed 'Boony', the stocky, moustached batsman's popularity was recently extended beyond the pitch, where he became something of a cult figure for his drinking exploits and singing of team songs. He famously vomited on the hallowed Adelaide Oval turf in a WSC game in 1988 before a live nationwide TV audience of millions (he went on to make 122 and win Man Of The Match).

Boon achieved much fame and notoriety for consuming 52 cans of beer on a flight between London and Sydney before the victorious Ashes tour that saw Australia regain the trophy after five years of English dominance. VB denied the story, though chose Boon as a representative (often jokingly referred to as the "Keg on Legs") because of his legendary drinking exploits and dogged, iconoclasic batting displays. One health expert claimed it was a "..a dog-whistle marketing strategy directed at the heavy-drinking, sporting public that says, 'Go for it'."

Following Boon's retirement from international cricket, Tasmania proclaimed November 14, 1996 David Boon Day, and an all-star testimonial match was held in his honour..

 

[sideshowtim]

No one filled the stands like Tendulkar.

Great batsman yeah, but he's not really a "character".

 

[steds]

In the 1950s all the English boys wanted to be Dennis Compton except those from Yorkshire who wanted to be Len Hutton

Apart from those in Lancashire who wanted to be Cyril Washbrook?

 

[aussie tragic]

Apart from those in Lancashire who wanted to be Cyril Washbrook?

I was going to say "what the" when I read that he made a come back to the test team at age 41. He was a English selector at the time, so I guess it takes a character to select themselves in a test team. Maybe Boonie and Merv might make a come back soon

 

[Tomm NCCC]

The greatest Character in cricket was Eddo Brands, mainly for that one seldging incident.