The 10 greatest international cricketers who played county cricket

English domestic cricket has historically been one of the highest levels of the sport. Despite not being as revered as it once was, there is still no better place for a batsman to hone their craft against swing and seam, or for a bowler to perfect that very art.In days gone by, many of the world’s best cricketers doubled up as county players when they did not have international duties. They formed lasting relationships with their counties, leaving marks that are still remembered fondly by fans to this day. After all, it was quite something when a global superstar would come to play in your humble little town.Here is a list of the 10 great international cricketers who played county cricket.

#1 Sir Vivian Richards

Vivian Richards bats for Somerset

Back when West Indies were at the peak of world cricket, many of their cricketers also got involved with county cricket. Sir Vivian Richards was just one of the show-stoppers who played – the swashbuckling Antiguan represented Somerset from 1974 to 1986 and left an indelible mark on the club’s history.

Despite never winning the ultimate County Championship prize, Somerset excelled in the one-day competitions with Richards on board. The team won the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1981 and 1982, the Gillette Cup in 1979 and 1983, as well as the 40-over Sunday League in 1979. Sir Ian Botham and Joel Garner were also key cogs in Somerset’s golden era.

During a glittering international career, Richards hit 8,540 Test runs at an average of 50.23, and 6,741 one-day international (ODI) runs at exactly 47. He was also a handy bowler, picking up over 500 wickets combined in first-class and List A cricket.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar

The boyish Sachin Tendulkar rocked Yorkshire in 1992

A boyish Sachin Tendulkar rocked up at Yorkshire in 1992, and it is fitting that the Master Blaster played for the most successful county in English domestic history, with 33 County Championship victories. It was a short stay up north for the then 19-year-old Indian, but he hinted at his huge potential even then.

With over 1,000 Championship runs and a ton in the fierce Roses match against bitter rivals Lancashire, the young Tendulkar did plenty to endear himself to the Headingley crowd. He appeared to have a lot of fun too, and one of the lasting images from his stay is of him supping a pint of Tetley’s – a famous English ale brewed in Yorkshire.

Statistically, Tendulkar is the greatest batsman ever to have participated in county cricket. His 100 international hundreds, 18,426 ODI runs and almost 16,000 Test runs are feats that may perhaps never be matched.

#3 Brian Lara

Brian Lara after his record knock of 501* for Warwickshire in 1994

Known for his penchant for mind-boggling big innings, Brian Lara racked up scores of 375 and 400 while competing for West Indies, but he managed to go even better at Warwickshire. In 1994, the Trinidadian put Durham to the sword, responding to their total of 556 with 501 unbeaten runs of his own – the highest score in first-class history.

Lara had a five-year stretch at the county in the 1990s but it was his first year at the club in 1994 where he achieved the most success. In addition to his 427-ball 501, the West Indian had a phenomenal purple patch which saw him amass six centuries in just seven innings. He finished the season with 2,066 Championship runs from 15 matches, averaging almost 90.

The left-hander would continue playing international cricket for another nine years after departing Warwickshire, before retiring at home after West Indies’ exit at the Super Eight stage of the 2007 50-over World Cup. Lara is the leading run-scorer in his country’s Test history.

#4 Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan celebrates the fall of a wicket with Lancashire teammates in 2001

Muttiah Muralitharan bamboozled batsmen relentlessly for nearly 20 years, and the spin king also worked his magic for three English counties – predominantly for Lancashire, but for Kent and Gloucestershire too.

His first of four year-long stints at Lancashire came in 1999, a club he would return to play for in 2001, 2005 and 2007. Muralitharan also spent a year in the south-east in 2003 when he donned the Kent kit. The spinner excelled in county conditions, lowering his Test bowling average of 22.72 by over seven runs, taking 236 wickets in 33 matches.

Following his Test retirement, he became a Twenty20 freelancer and subsequently returned to England to play at Gloucestershire for two years, leaving after the 2012 season. Muralitharan continued to play in the Indian Premier League, retiring at the end of the 2014 edition at the age of 42.

#5 Sir Garfield Sobers

Gary Sobers on way to his innings of 144* for Nottinghamshire in 1970

Sir Garfield “Garry” Sobers is perhaps the best all-rounder ever to have played the sport, and during the back-end of his career the Caribbean great represented Nottinghamshire, who managed to fight off six other teams in the running to sign him.

His time there from 1968 to 1974 went down in history after Sobers – who was captain – became the first player to ever hit six sixes in an over. The feat was completed on 31 August 1968 when the unenvied Glamorgan slow-bowler Malcolm Nash got smashed at a ground in Swansea. However, despite the Barbadian’s presence, the county never won any accolades with him there.

Sobers scored over 8,000 Test runs at an average of 57.78, while with the ball he picked up 235 wickets at 34 runs apiece. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 for his services to cricket.

#6 Sir Richard Hadlee

Sir Richard Hadlee and Clive Rice celebrate Nottinghamshire’s Schweppes Championship triumph in 1981

Another tremendous all-rounder, New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee also turned out for Nottinghamshire for almost a decade (1978 to 1987) at the height of his playing days. And he produced some fine bowling spells that would leave batsmen quaking in their boots even now.

In 1981 and 1984, Hadlee took 105 and 117 wickets respectively – both times at a sub-15 average. If that wasn’t enough, in the latter season he provided over 1,000 runs with the bat. However, he saved his best for 1987 with 97 first-class wickets at a miserly 11.89 each – the best season average for nearly two decades.

Hadlee was showered with multiple awards at Nottinghamshire from the Professional Cricketers’ Association and Wisden. The county won the Championship in 1981 and 1987 during the Hadlee era, which remains one of the finest in the club’s history.

#7 Graeme Hick

Graeme Hick during his innings of 405* for Worcestershire in 1988

Graeme Hick’s career was a case of “what could have been”. He never truly flourished for England – averaging a mere 31.32 in 65 Test matches – but the Zimbabwe-born batsman proved a run-machine at his adopted home of Worcestershire for 25 years.

Beginning his professional career at the county in 1984, Hick made waves for the second XI and was awarded a chance in the final Championship match of the year, where he made 82 not out. He then quickly established himself as the core of Worcestershire’s batting lineup in both four-day and one-day cricket, accruing over 40,000 and 20,000 runs in both formats respectively before retiring in 2008 at the age of 44.

Hick joined an elite club of cricketers in 1988 when he completed the fiendish task of scoring 1,000 first-class runs before the end of May. That same year he hit his highest first-class score, pummelling an unbeaten 405 against Somerset at Taunton.

#8 Shane Warne

Shane Warne was a favourite of the Hampshire crowd from 2000 onwards

Few Englishmen would ever have cheered for Shane Warne, but Hampshire fans were delighted to secure the Australian spinner’s services between 2000 and 2007 – a team he captained from 2005 onwards.

Under Warne, Hampshire won the 2005 C&G Trophy and successfully led them back to Division One of the County Championship, a competition the club have won twice in their history. In a show of appreciation for the Aussie’s contributions, Hampshire decided to name a stand at their Rose Bowl stadium after him.

Warne retired from internationals in January 2007 but proceeded to play county cricket that year. After leaving Hampshire, he guided Rajasthan Royals to victory in the inaugural IPL and played for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League before finally hanging up his bowling boots in 2013.

#9 Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara bats for Surrey earlier in 2015

Surrey has a reputation for attracting some of the world’s biggest names, and signing legendary Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara is their latest coup. The 37-year-old signed a two-year contract with the club starting in 2015, and he is set to become an integral part of the squad after retiring from international cricket this August.

Sangakkara has wasted no time in making an impact at his new home and he single-handedly carried Surrey to the Royal London Cup final with a terrific 166 which featured 13 fours and a six against Nottinghamshire. Surrey won that match by just four runs.

Sangakkara is no stranger to county cricket and he enjoyed a stint with Warwickshire in 2007. He also signed to play for northern county Lancashire in 2010, but never actually played for the club because of international duties.

#10 Graham Gooch

Graham Gooch bowls for Essex

Nobody has scored more professional runs (67,057) than Graham Gooch. It’s a surprise to many that the Essex lad is at the top of the tree, but thanks to a career spanning a quarter of a decade, records for longevity have appropriately followed.

The right-hander, who succeeded mightily in both first-class and List A cricket, competed in almost 1,200 matches and racked up 172 centuries for England, Essex and Western Province. When not in an England shirt it was Essex where Goochie was loved the most, and the county won six County Championships, three Sunday Leagues, two Gillette Cups and one Benson & Hedges Cup with him in the mix.

Until Alastair Cook trumped him, Gooch was the highest run-scorer for England, who he captained from 1989 to 1994. The batsman eventually retired from all forms of cricket in 1997.