Top 10 "heavyweight" cricketers of all time

Sports is all about fitness and athleticism and with the advent of T20 cricket, the issue of fitness has become even more important. We often hear about sportsmen living on strict fitness regimens and proper diets to ensure optimal fitness. Even in cricket nowadays, the teams have more support staff than players.

Yet there are a few eminent cricketers who had a few “weighty” issues but still managed to carve their names among the greatest in the business. Considering that some of the chubbiest players in the world are also some of the best, it makes you wonder whether one really has to be slim and trim to be a world class cricketer!

Here’s a list of 10 ‘heavyweight’ cricketers who you wouldn’t want to mess with!

10. Samit Patel

The Indian origin English cricketer from Northampton kicks off the list. In an English team that consists of lean and fit players, Samit Patel is definitely an eye sore. Though he is yet to get off the baby fat off his cheek, Patel is quite a swift mover across the turf with a few extra few kilos up his tummy.

9. Darren Gough

Making an appearance next is another Englishman, Darren Gough. The spearhead of England’s bowling attack through the 90s, Darren Gough is England’s highest wicket-taker in One-day Internationals. Standing at 5’11″, this stockily built Yorkshire man is best remembered for his jovial nature. Never short of a word, Darren Gough was quite an entertainer both on and off the field.

8. Jesse Ryder

Many call him the left handed Inzamam-ul-Haq. A versatile all rounder with lot of potential, this Kiwi has often found himself on the bench due to his injury prone nature. Though he’s quite a misfit among his very fit Kiwi colleagues, Jesse Ryder does remind you of one of your high school beer junkies.

7. Shane Warne

No we’re not talking about the post-Liz Hurley version. Shane Warne, in his pre-IPL avatar was quite a big sight. Regarded as one of the best spinners to grace the cricket field, Warne has often been photographed with his pint of beer. He also made the headlines during his 1998 tour of India with his love for baked beans. But a recent love affair with diet shake has seen the big man shake off his extra kilos.

6. Ramesh Powar

India’s only representative in the heavyweight list. The Mumbai man is quite a character on the field with his ever-changing hairstyle and collection of cool shades. A traditional off-spinner and a useful man with the bat, Powar was a treat to watch in the field. Though he played limited games for India, it has always been a LOL moment for the spectators whenever this man has chased a ball to the ropes or put in that occasional dive!

5. David Boon

Nicknamed Keg on Legs, David Boon was one of Australia’s best openers ever. This Tasmanian Devil was a prolific batsman and one of the players who never hid his love for meat pies and VB cans and gladly flaunted his bulging belly! The belly though had nothing to do when he stood at short leg. David Boon was one of the finest close in fielders and perhaps his extra kilos in the mid section cushioned the shock whenever he dived to pouch a beauty.

4. Arjuna Ranatunga

One of the best captains of the world ever. He led a small island nation to the top of the world and reinvented the theories of conservation of energy. An elegant left-hander, Ranatunga would hardly jog for the singles but would walk them. The shrewd captain always supported his players as he even got into a tiff with the Aussies. Standing permanently at short mid-wicket, this man was easily one of the best leaders cricket has ever seen.

3. Merve Hughes

David Boon’s partner in crime, Merv Hughes lived up to his surname. He was huge, in fact colossal. Though he didn’t take many wickets for Australia, he certainly intimidated a few. Known for his on field antics and classic sledges, Merve Hughes was one of the most entertaining cricketers ever.

2. Inzamam-ul-Haq

Perhaps one of the best of the 90s generation, Inzamam-ul-Haq was was right up there along with the Laras and Tendulkars. If one thought his batting was fun, his dismissals were funnier. Apart from his record run out dismissals, Inzi often found a new way to get out – whether obstructing the field or falling on his stumps. A very soft spoken man, Inzi also entertained us with his spoken English. Though he had a huge unit, he was one of the classiest with the bat and one of the safest in the slips.

1. Dwanye Leverock

The top spot goes unanimously to the man from Bermuda, Dwayne Leverock. Also known as ‘Sluggo’, Leverock lives above a curry house in Bermuda and is a policeman who drives a prison van. At the 2007 Cricket World Cup he was the largest player to grace the pitch, weighing in at 280 pounds but his claim to fame was the diving catch that he took off India’s Robin Uthappa, that stunned most people around the cricketing world.

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Special Mention: William Gilbert Grace

W.G. Grace was one of the bulkiest players during his era. W.G.’s, as he was fondly called, an idea of a healthy lunch was a large Irish whiskey with Angostura bitters. One of his admirers, Arthur Conan Doyle described him as a person with a huge frame, bushy beard, and somewhat lumbering carriage.

With the Father of Cricket leading the way, the above-mentioned cricketers would be proud to be bracketed with him.