Gentlemen XI Of World Cricket

While the saying that ‘Cricket is a gentleman’s game’ is a myth, over the years we have seen many cricketers, who apart from their skills, have left us in awe with their cool and calm demeanor and the manner in which they conducted themselves both on and off the field.

So, we at Cricket Addictor thought why not making a list of XI cricketers who played the game with the right attitude and set an example for the future generations to follow.

Here’s a look at Gentlemen XI Of World Cricket-

Alastair Cook

One of the greatest Test openers to have ever played the game, Alastair Cook was also the epitome of someone who played the game with utmost humility.

Cook never indulged in bad-mouthing the opposition and always let his bat do the talking.

And, his bat did talk a lot. The champion English batsman, who played a stellar role in his side winning in Australia and India in 2010/11 and 2012/13, retired from the game in 2018 after having racked up 12472 Test runs in 161 matches at an average of 45.35 with 57 50s and 33 tons.

Hashim Amla

A smiling assassin and an epitome of grit, mental toughness, and fortitude, Hashim Amla was a thorough gentleman, who played the game with utmost humility and valor.

Just like Cook, Amla always let his bat do the talking in whichever format of the game he played.

Amla retired from the game in 2019 but not before he had racked up 9282, 8113, and 1277 runs in 124 Tests, 181 ODIs, and 44 T20Is respectively which also included a total of 55 tons, 4 double-hundreds, and a triple-ton.

Rahul Dravid ©

Harsha Bhogle once said that if the team asks Rahul Dravid to run on water, he’ll ask ‘How Many Kilometers?

This statement pretty much sums up what a gentleman and an absolute team man Rahul Dravid.

Dravid was the epitome of an ultimate team-man, who always used to put the interest of his team ahead of his own selfish interests. Whether it was opening the innings in Test cricket or keeping wickets in the ODI format to allow the team to play an extra batsman, Dravid was an ultimate team man and a captain’s delight.

Kane Williamson 

The ever-smiling Kane Williamson is not only one of the great batsmen of the modern era, but also one of the most humble players going around.

Williamson’s silken touch with the bat and his infectious smile coupled with a cool and calm demeanor has helped him won over a lot of fans from around the world.

The way he conducted himself after that heartbreaking ending to the 2019 World Cup final was truly exemplary.

They say that the Kiwis are the ‘good guys. Williamson certainly testifies that to the hilt.

AB de Villiers (WK)

AB de Villiers would probably be the only cricketer who is adored more in India than in his own country, South Africa.

And, that’s not only because of his outrageous batting skills but it’s also because of the fact that he is a humble, no-nonsense talking cricketer.

Throughout the course of his career, even when he was at the peak of his powers, the champion cricketer never let his superstar status come in way of his ethics.

He always played the game with utmost competitiveness but he never ever crossed the line. No wonder,  he is hailed as one of the ‘gentleman’ of this beautiful game.

Michael Hussey

It is safe to say that Michael Hussey was pretty ‘UnAustralian’ in the manner in which he conducted himself on the field. Hussey played in the dominant Australian teams of the 2000s which thrived on getting under the skin of the opposition through sledding.

But, unlike his fellow teammates, Hussey never resorted to such antics and always believed in letting his bat do the talking. No wonder,  he is one of the most loved Australian cricketers around the world, especially in India.

Jason Holder

Jason Holder has impinged himself as one of the leading all-rounders in the longest of the game in the modern era.

And, barring his all-round skills and temperament,  what stands out is his cool and calm demeanor.

At a time when senior players were leaving Test cricket to chase the dollar in T20 Leagues, Holder led the team with utmost humility and via his own individual performances,  he earned the respect of not only his teammates but from the folklore in general.

Muttiah Muralitharan

The ultimate ‘smiling assassin’ Muttiah Muralitharan was a perfect example of someone who kills you softly.

The off-spin magician used to bamboozle the batters with his precocious skills, and he did that with an ever-constant smile on his face.

The champion off-spinner was one of the great characters of the game as a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

Trent Boult

Fast bowlers are expected to be mean, aggressive, hostile, right? New Zealand’s Trent Boult is perhaps one of the few exceptions to that stereotype.

As a fast bowler, Trent Boult has all the ingredients: he is tall, he can swing the ball both ways, he can bowl a mean bouncer or nail a yorker with equal disdain.

The difference between him and other pacers is that he rarely resorts to giving batsmen an earful. He just backs his skills and let the ball do the talking.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The same can be said about India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who, like Trent Boult, never resorts to sledging or hurling abuses.

Bhuvi goes about his business in a statesman-like manner. He always has a smile on his face but at the same time, he is very competitive and never gives an inch to the opposition.

It’s his skills that do the talking, not his mouth.

Lasith Malinga

One of the greatest white-ball bowlers of all time and certainly the best T20 bowler of all time, Lasith Malinga dominated batsmen around the world with his outrageous skìlls, and to add insult to injury, he used to greet them with a smile.