An All Time Eleven of 'Gentlemen'

Cricket is generally considered as the gentleman's game but with the advent of T-20 cricket, players nowadays often cross the line. Monetary penalties and punishments could only curb the friction among the players on the field but has not stopped it completely. Despite all of this there have been many cricketers who have set examples for future generations to follow. They have never been involved in verbal battles and have always played the game in the right spirit.

So, let us now take a look at the team of gentlemen who have proved cricket is indeed a gentleman's game.

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#1 Adam Gilchrist

In cricket's early days, the role of wicket-keepers was primarily to keep wickets but, in the last two decades, with the arrival of Australia's Adam Gilchrist, the role of a wicket-keeper has been redefined due to his exploits with both bat and gloves.

Arguably, Adam Gilchrist is one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of modern-day cricket. Gilly is fondly remembered for his honesty on the field. He has never waited for the umpire’s decision when he knew he was out.

Gilchrist has played 96 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 13 T20Is scoring 5570, 9619 and 272 runs respectively. After being plagued by injuries, Gilly decided to hang his boots from international cricket on 4th March 2008.

#2 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum was a true gentleman

The former captain of the Black Caps is undoubtedly one of the greatest Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsmen of all time. McCullum has gained a huge fan base all over the globe with his achievements and conduct on and off the cricket field. He is a true gentleman in this game.

McCullum has played 101 Tests, 260 ODIs, and 71 T20s scoring 6453, 6083 and 2140 runs respectively. On 20th February 2016 at the age of 35 McCullum announced retirement from international cricket but he continues to take part in T20 leagues across the world.

#3 Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid redefined the term gentleman with his humbleness

If there is any cricketing personality that thoroughly deserves the tag of "Gentleman", it has to be Rahul Dravid. Fondly known as "The Wall", Rahul Dravid is the personification of class.

The words "class" and "determination" were synonymous with this cricketer in his playing days. He was always focused on the cricket field and hardly responded to any sledging that came his way.

Dravid has played 164 Tests, 344 ODIs, and a solitary T20I scoring 13288, 10889 and 31 runs respectively. In March 2012, Rahul announced his retirement from international and first-class cricket. Even after his retirement, he is quite busy crafting the next generation of Indian cricket by coaching the India A and Under-19 sides.

#4 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar, the God of cricket

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is undoubtedly the greatest ambassador for the game of cricket around the globe. The Little Master of cricket has enriched the game not only with his achievements but also with his conduct on and off the field.

He has never involved in any sledging. Even when the opposition tried to get under his skin, he quietly let his bat do the talking. All those verbal abuses and sledging could only help better his game.

After entertaining his devotees for more than two decades from the 22 yards, Sachin Tendulkar hung his boots from International cricket on 16 November 2013. It’s been around 5 years since he retired, but the legend of Sachin Tendulkar still presides over world cricket. Almost all the major batting records in cricket books are still etched in his name.

#5 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers shocked the world when he retired this year

Fondly known as the ‘Superman’ of world cricket, AB de Villiers is an automatic entry into this list. AB is one of the most adored stars in modern-day cricket. He is one of the few players who get equal respect all over the world. Along with his 360-degree cricket performances on the field, his attitude towards the game makes him a great gentleman of this era.

On 23rd May 2018, ABD shocked the cricketing world by announcing his sudden retirement from international cricket. De Villiers played 114 Tests, 228 ODIs, and 78 T20Is scoring 8765, 9577 and 1672 runs respectively.

#6 Brian Lara

Brian Lara was not only a great player

The name that needs no introduction, Brian Lara, is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. His achievements and conduct on and off the field are even appreciated by the players who played against him.

He topped the ICC Test Rankings for batsmen on several occasions and still holds several cricketing records which are quite next to impossible to achieve. Those records include the highest individual score in first-class cricket, 501* and the highest individual score in a Test innings, 400*, against England at Antigua in 2004. He is the only batsman in the history of cricket to have ever scored a century, a double century, a triple century, a quadruple century and a quintuple century in first-class games.

#7 Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev is still known for being the first skipper to win India a World Cup

Kapil Dev Nikhanj, nicknamed Haryana Hurricane, is still considered as the greatest all-rounder that India has ever produced. He is the first Indian captain to lift the World Cup, which was achieved when India defeated the beasts West Indies in the Finals at Lord's in 1983. One can understand the impact he has made on Indian cricket with his all-round skills as India is still in search for a genuine all-rounder who matches Kapil Dev's quality.

Apart from his achievements and services for his country, Kapil Dev is famously remembered for his dignity on and off the field. Even when he had an upper-hand on the opposition, he was never involved in any unnecessary celebrations and sledging.

The Haryana-born cricketer played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs, scoring 5248 and 3783 runs, scalping 434 and 253 wickets respectively. He is also the only player in the history of Test cricket to have scored in excess of 5000 runs and taken more than 400 wickets.

#8 Ian Botham

Ian Botham was one of the greatest all-rounders

The former England cricketer is largely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. Botham was a genuine match-winner for England with both bat and ball in Tests as well as ODIs.

Botham was a true gentleman with a real insight into the game. He was one of the most prominent personalities to have ever played the game of cricket.

During a 15-year career of Test cricket, he scalped 383 wickets at an average of 28.40 in 102 matches and also scored 5,200 runs at an average of 33.54. Botham also represented England in 116 ODIs, scoring 2,113 runs and taking 145 wickets at an average of 28.54.

#9 Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram - the finest exponent of swing bowling

Wasim Akram is a former Pakistani cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. He is considered to be one of the finest exponents of the swing bowling. He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket, with 881 scalps, and with 502 ODI wickets, he is next only to Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

Besides being a fearsome bowler during his days, Akram was renowned for his conduct as well as he never crossed the line on the field and is still loved by fans all over the globe.

#10 Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble showed great dignity when he resigned from the role as the Head Coach of India

Anil Kumble, the man who served Indian cricket for 18 years, has always played the gentlemen’s game in the right spirit and as a true gentleman. The controversial Sydney Test against Australia in 2008, during which a lot of decisions went against the Indians, highlights the dignity and attitude of Anil Kumble when he questioned the spirit of Australian cricketers during the post-match conference by simply saying - "Only one team has played in the spirit of the game".

Anil Kumble played 132 Tests and 271 ODIs taking 619 and 337 wickets respectively. He is only the third bowler to take 600 Test wickets after Muttaiah Muralidharan and Shane Warne. After leading India in 14 Tests, Kumble decided to quit international cricket on 4th January 2012.

#11 Javagal Srinath

Srinath let the ball do the talking

Fondly known as "Karnataka Express", Javagal Srinath is the only Indian fast bowler to feature in four ICC Cricket World Cups. Srinath is India's second-highest ODI wicket-taker with 315 wickets, only next to Anil Kumble who has taken 337.

Srinath is one of the most composed fast bowlers one will ever see. There was an incident in 1999 when Ricky Ponting was not able to handle Srinath's bouncer and the ball hit his helmet. Immediately Ponting went to Srinath and abused him. Instead of answering back, Srinath chose to stay quiet and showed them why cricket is a gentleman's game.