Five Cricketers Who Forgot Debilitating Pain For Their Country And Fought Bravely On The Field
Updated - 25 Nov 2018, 04:05 PM
‘Cricketers who overcame pain barriers for their country’ – Cricketers have always been considered as tough athletes. The rigours of this beautiful game is more than enough to make any individual’s life difficult if he is not brave. Facing balls travelling over 140 kmph, standing in the sun for a whole day of Test cricket in a sunny or a chilly day, fielding at short-leg, the game has enough is definitely not for the weak-hearted.
But then again there are some players who have raised the bar even more with their extraordinary bravery. In the first game of the 2018 Asia Cup, Bangladesh star Tamin Iqbal stunned everyone when he came out to bat towards the end of the innings despite fracturing his wrist in the second over of the game. He batted with one hand while his partner made the most of it by guiding the team to a respectable total.
Well, this is not the first example of players pushing through pain barriers to play for their country.
So, here are some of our favourite examples of courage from players battling through the worst of injuries:
5. Gary Kirsten: Pakistan vs South Africa at Lahore, 2003-04
Many would have even feared for the worst let along thinking about seeing Gary Kirsten bat again in the game when he was hit by a vicious bouncer from tearaway pacer Shoaib Akhtar. The ball smashed his face as the southpaw staggered to his knees. He had to retire hurt for 53, while x-rays soon revealed that he had a broken nose.
Pakistan responded to South Africa’s first-innings 320 with a score of 401 as Taufeeq Umar scored a century and debutant Asim Kamal made 99.
South Africa lost regular wickets in the second innings. At 149 for 4, they were in a precarious position when Kirsten decided to take the matters in his own hand. The Proteas star, with his face barely recognisable due to the bruises, bravely walked out to bat. Showing remarkable grit and determination, he scored 46. Pakistan, however, managed to win the game.
4. Colin Cowdrey: England vs West Indies at Lord’s, 1963
The Lord’s Test of 1963 between England and West Indies was one of the most thrilling Test matches of all time. Right from the start till the end, the game managed to keep the fans interested.
West Indies scored 301 in the first innings. In reply, the hosts scored 297. West Indies were bowled out for 229 in the third innings, with Basil Butcher scoring an excellent 133.
On Day Four, with the match in the balance and England 31 for three, Wes Hall stunned the crowd by hitting Colin Cowdrey’s arm with a thunderbolt. As a result of the blow, Cowdrey’s arm was broken, and he would be unable to continue.
Barrington and Brian Close then scored fighting half-centuries to take England nearer and nearer. A late fightback from the West Indies pacers saw England suddenly lose a bout of wickets. The final equation was England needing eight to win off the final over with two wickets in hand. With six to win off three balls, Derek Shackleton was run out. The game was finished for most at that moment before Cowdrey came out to bat with a plastered arm. With six needed off two balls and one wicket in hand, David Allen chose to block as the match ended in a memorable draw.
3. Anil Kumble: West Indies vs India at Antigua, 2002
Spinners are not quite related with showing grit and determination but Anil Kumble was an exception by miles. While batting against West Indies at Antigua, the former India skipper was hit on the mouth by a Mervyn Dillon bouncer. He was hit so bad that he started bleeding profusely. However, he continued to bat. At the end of the innings, he found out that the jaw was fractured, and that he would play no more part in the series.
Kumble was set to take the flight for home the following day. The cricketing world had thought that Kumble would now rest and leave for India just like any other sane individual. But the legendary spinner stunned everyone when he came out to bowl with a bandaged faced. He bowled 14 overs and even took the wicket of Brian Lara.
2. Malcolm Marshall: England vs West Indies at Headingley, 1984
On most of the occasions, it was Marshall who inflicted pain on the opposition players with his express pace. But Marshall perhaps got a taste of what it feels like when he broke his thumb in two places while fielding in the gully. He was told not to think about cricket for ten days.
England must have heaved a sigh of relief to see the terrorising West Indian not fit to make their lives difficult. England, who were 2-0 down in the series, scored 270 in their first innings.
On Day Three, West Indies were led by Larry Gomes and Michael Holding’s 80-run stand as the duo ensured West Indies took the lead. When Joel Garner was ninth man out with Gomes on an unbeaten 96, everyone expectedly thought that the innings was over. But what followed left everyone shell-shocked. Marshall came out to bat, batted one-handed and ensured Gomes completes his fifty.
But that was not the end of it. The legendary pacer came out to bowl too and took seven for 53 to blow England away for 159 as West Indies cantered home by eight wickets.
1. Bert Sutcliffe: South Africa vs New Zealand at Johannesburg, 1953-54
It was a game that perhaps redefined bravery in game. South Africa pacers Neil Adcock and David Ironside bowled hostile spells on a minefield of a pitch. And one of those sharp bouncers hit the newly-arrived Bert Sutcliffe on the side of his head. Sutcliffe was soon floored and was rushed to the hospital.
Subsequent X-rays showed no fracture, but Sutcliffe’s earlobe was split and he had a huge swelling behind his ear. Sutcliffe later revealed that the injury had an effect on him for life, and that he never truly recovered from it.
Advised complete rest, Sutcliffe returned to the ground. And when he saw his compatriots falling like a pack of cards, he decided to do the unimaginable – going out to bat. He walked out to bat with a bandaged head, and proceeded to play one of the most outrageous innings in the history of the game. Showing exemplary courage, he smashed 25 runs in an over off Hugh Tayfield, a record he would hold for the next 50 years. He remained unbeaten on 80.
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