10 Inspiring Stories Of Cricketers Who Battled Hardships To Rise At The Top

Imagine losing a finger or toes to an accident, or fighting cancer, or working as a tailor, or being a son of a potter, and then rising to the top of international cricket; a fairytale. Isn’t it? However, not for all. Some cricketers have managed to survive or still battling with these kinds of challenges but have made their mark in international cricket.

Their stories are inspiring, goose-bumps-inducing, even sympathetic. But these men – these strong and tough men – fought, worked hard towards their passion, never let the spirit of playing for their country fade away, and eventually rose from the Ashes to make an indelible tat in the cricket books.

10 Inspiring Stories Of  International Cricketers Who Battled Hardships

Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins lost about a centimetre of his middle-finger early in his life. As a child, his sister slammed the door on him, chopping off the top of his finger.

It isn’t easy to envisage how Cummins gathered the will to decide pace bowling as his career as the middle-finger plays a very big role while bowling. The right-hander made his Test debut at the age of just 18 in South Africa. Cummins had to battle several injuries in the early phase of his career, keeping him out of action for years as he played his second Test after 6 years.

But, he hasn’t looked back since returning to cricket. The Australian is currently, the number 1 ICC Test bowler and is renowned for his accurate line and length.

Mohammad Yousuf

Born in a Christian family as Yousuf Youhana, he converted to Islam as Mohammad Yousuf. The right-hander set a record of 1788 Test runs in 2006, which still stands. Yousuf belongs to a very poor and had to work as a tailor in his childhood.

In his illustrious 12-year career, Yousuf scored over 17,00 runs and 39 international centuries- not bat for someone who didn’t have money to buy cricketing equipment. Yousuf retired in 2010 as one of the greatest batsmen Pakistan has ever produced.

Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill is one of the most dangerous opening batsmen in the world. However, very few people know that the right-hander doesn’t have three toes in his left foot! He met with a forklift accident when he was 13.

While batting the movement and balance of the front foot is vital. Guptill has scored over 11,000 international runs without a complete foot. The 34-year-old continues to be an important part of New Zealand’s white-ball team as the Black Caps are eyeing their first ICC T20 World Cup in 2021 in India.

Tony Greig

Former England player, and world-renowned commentator, Tony Greig suffered from epilepsy throughout his career and later life. He had his first epileptic fit at the age of 14. Playing with the epileptic disorder, the all-rounder scored over 3500 runs and picked 141 Test wickets.

He publically announced his illness only after retiring. Greig died in 2012 due to a heart attack. He was also battling lung cancer in the later stages of his life.

Matthew Wade

On the outside, a hard, rough Australian who doesn’t shy away from any challenge by the bowler on the field. Off the field as well, Matthew Wade is a fighter and a survivor as he beat testicular cancer after being diagnosed with it at the tender age of 16.

He had to undergo multiple chemo sessions, and finally, he beat the disease. The left-hander made it to the international arena, but always was under the shadow of Brad Haddin, and then Tim Paine. However, now he has made a return to the side solely as a batsman; the southpaw scored two hundred in the Ashes last year as Australia retained the urn for the first time in 8 years in England.

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh was vomiting blood during the 2011 World Cup, as revealed by his friend and teammate, Harbhajan Singh. But the left-hander chose to fight with it and continued to play for his country. India won the World Cup. Yuvraj was exemplary with his all-rounder performances and was awarded the Man of the Tournament.

Later, it was disclosed that the southpaw has a  cancerous tumour in his left lung and had to undergo treatment in the United States. One of the greatest match-winner in white-ball cricket, Yuvraj made his international return after a two-year fight with cancer and successfully defeating it. Although, he wasn’t as free-flowing as before, but struck a couple of memorable knocks against Pakistan and England.

T Natarajan

T Natarajan, the latest sensation in the Indian team – and fortunately it’s a pace bowler, a left-arm pace bowler – is an epitome rag to riches story. Natarajan’s father worked as a potter, and his mother used to sell tea at stalls. They would be mighty proud that their son – eldest of five children in the family – just made his India debut in Australia and delivered promising performances.

The left-arm pacer started with tennis ball cricket, and then was picked for Tamil Nadu. He was noticed by IPL scouts and was bought by Kings XI Punjab and later by Sunrisers Hyderabad. With his exemplary display of pinpoint yorkers, he has earned nicknames like ‘left-handed Bumrah’ and ‘Tamil Nadu’s Mustafizur’.

Nicholas Pooran

Touted as the future of West Indies cricket and one of the most dynamic batsmen in limited-overs cricket, Nicholas Pooran, once was told by the doctor that he could never play again. At the age of 19, Pooran suffered a horrible accident where both his legs were fractured.

He needed 7 months to walk again. He trained hard on his fitness, and after more than two years, he was back on the cricket field. The left-hander is now an important part of the West Indies team and for Kings XI Punjab.

Jesse Ryder

Jesse Ryder is renowned for his explosiveness at the top of the order. However, his career was cut short when he was attacked outside a Christchurch bar in 2013.

The left-hander underwent several surgeries and was in a coma for almost 56 hours. Ryder, after defeating death from a close distance returned to the field. He notches a hundred on his return to the national side.

BS Chandrasekhar

BS Chandrasekhar was one of the finest spinners in the 20th century. The leg-spinner took 242 Test wickets. However, it was nowhere near comfortable for Chandrasekhar to bowl.

He suffered a polio attack in childhood and also his bowling arm – right hand – was withered. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1972. In 2002, he won the Wisden award for “Best bowling performance of the century” for India, for his 6/38 runs against England at the Oval in 1971.

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