'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hard work, determination, sacrifice, perseverance, commitment are only some of the virtues that come to mind when we think of stories of people who have excelled in the field of sports. A successful sportsperson’s story is a package of such qualities enveloped in the stardom that he/she achieves.
Their image, a creation of the media and how we perceive it, is just like the surface of the ocean. It is only by diving deeper that we realise what all has transpired behind the scenes, which has eventually brought about the performance that has played a role in raising that person in the fan’s eyes.
An autobiography is a great platform which sportsmen use to tell the world about their story, their path to success, the difficulties and the challenges faced along the way and the achievements which make their journey worthwhile.
Legendary Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, through his book ‘A century is not enough’, is the latest entrant into the list of cricketers who have gone the autobiographical way to tell their story. Here is a compilation of a Test XI of cricketers who gave the cricket fan an opportunity to have a look into their lives and careers, an unrivalled manner of showing their gratitude to the fans who gave them a demigod status.
Cricketers who made their debut in the last 30 years (post 1988) have been considered and stats are updated till 28th February, 2018
Openers:
Matthew Hayden
M: 103 Inn: 184 Runs: 8625 Avg: 50.73 Best: 380 50/100: 29/30
The left-handed burly Australian opener Hayden sent shivers down the spine of opposition bowling attacks whenever he opened the batting. An integral part of the invincible Aussie team of the first decade of the 21st century, Hayden’s aggressive batting set the tone for the incoming batsmen and for the match as a whole.
Haydos’ autobiography, ‘Standing my ground’, published in 2010, reflects upon the man of contradictions that he was- in the face of his opponent on the field and a god-fearing gentleman off it.
Alastair Cook
M: 152 Inn: 275 Runs: 12005 Avg: 46.35 Best: 294 50/100: 55/32
The calm-headed and technically sound Cook serves as the perfect foil to the aggression of Hayden. A modern day great, Cook has proven, time and again, his batting genius by mastering alien conditions and helping England scale cricketing heights in this era.
Having made his memorable test debut against India in 2006, it was quite early in his career that Cook penned down his personal account, ‘Starting Out: My story so far’, in 2008. However, it is only fair to say that someone who scored seven test centuries before turning 23 would have had a lot to share about his journey to success.
Middle Order:
Ricky Ponting
M: 168 Inn: 287 Runs: 13378 Avg: 51.85 Best: 257 50/100: 62/41
Ponting, captain of this side, comfortably walks into the team at number three as his major competitors Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara have both not written autobiographies. Carrying forward the legacy of Allan Border and Steve Waugh, Punter became the flag-bearer of an all-conquering Australian team, leading from front with bat in hand and banter in his mouth.
‘Ponting: At the close of play’ which came out in 2013, is the Australian legend’s account of his playing days and where he saw cricket was headed towards, with a close reference to Australian cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar
M: 200 Inn: 329 Runs: 15921 Avg: 53.78 Best: 248* 50/100: 68/51
If there had to be one player who would have walked into any Test XI, it had to be the ‘Little Master’ from India- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Having written and rewritten the record books multiple times, there was hardly anything left for Sachin the batsman to achieve on the cricket field; the hundredth hundred further underscoring his might in world cricket.
‘Playing it my way’, written by Sachin in collaboration with famous sports journalist Boria Majumdar, gives his fans (read devotees) a look into the celebrated career and an opportunity to read personal anecdotes of their hero (read God). Just his name on it’s cover makes the book holy and pious for the Indian cricket fan.
AB de Villiers
M: 110 Inn: 183 Runs: 8338 Avg: 49.92 Best: 278* 50/100: 42/21
Amidst all the pyrotechnics and innovation, comes the story of a true sportsman, one who was good enough to professionally play rugby, tennis and cricket, by Mr. 360 in his own words. Arguably one of the finest and complete batsman in the modern era, Abraham Benjamin de Villiers is someone who plays to entertain crowds and one who is emotionally attached to the game which gives him a chance to make his country proud.
‘A B de Villiers- The Autobiography’ which came out in 2016, prior to his Test sabbatical, throws light on how the patriot in him keeps him going and how he manages his personal life amid all the superstardom.
Wicket-keeper & All-rounder
Adam Gilchrist
M: 96 Inn: 137 Runs: 5570 Avg: 47.60 Best: 204* 50/100: 26/17
Perhaps one of the greatest wicket-keeper batsman to have ever played the game, Adam Gilchrist joins compatriots Hayden and Ponting in this XI. The Aussie pacers could keep firing balls at batsmen all day with the confidence of having them caught safely by Gilly if an edge was induced. His 379 catches behind the stumps are a testament to his efficient glove-work and it did not come as a surprise when he hung up his boots after having dropped an easy chance in a Test match.
His explosive batting was an additional advantage to his team as he possessed the unique ability of turning matches on their heads by scoring briskly.
‘True Colours: My life’, quite justifies it’s name, as it brings out the honest picture of the virtuous Gilchrist who was respected by fans across the world, not just for his batting and keeping exploits, but also for his demeanour on the playing field.
Andrew Flintoff
M: 79 Inn: 130 Runs: 3845 Bat. Avg: 31.77 Best: 167 50/100: 26/5 Wickets: 226 Bowl. Avg: 32.78 5W: 3 BBI: 5/58
The only cricketer who could have easily pipped Flintoff for an all-rounder’s role is Jacques Kallis and since the South African has not written his autobiography, the tall Englishman makes this side without much competition.
A lower order swashbuckling batsman, a fast bowler who could bowl at any stage of an innings, a safe pair of bucket-like hands and most importantly a larger than life character on and off the field that he was, Freddie Flintoff had everything a captain could have dreamt of.
Years later, he might only come to mind only when people talk of the 2005 Ashes, but ‘Freddie Flintoff, My World’ is a piece of literature that gives a perfect insight to Andrew Flintoff and should be read by anyone who wishes to know what he meant and brought to English cricket.
Bowlers:
Shane Warne
M: 145 Inn: 199 Runs: 3154 Bat. Avg: 17.32 Best: 99 50/100: 12/0 Wickets: 708 Bowl. Avg: 25.41 5W: 37 BBI: 8/71
You cannot be penning down a Test XI and not include Shane Keith Warne. One of the best to have ever played the game, ‘King of Spin’ Warnie wrote his autobiography ‘Shane Warne: My Autobiography’ in 2001, at a time when he had picked up 356 Test scalps.
Having gone on to account for 342 more in his career, the book does not completely bring out what he thought about his playing days. The major talking point about his personal account remains the internal conflicts he had to fight, given the vast difference in his image on and off the field.
Glenn McGrath
M: 124 Wickets: 563 Avg: 21.64 SR: 51.9 5W: 29 BBI: 8/24
Glenn McGrath was one of the fiercest competitors on the field and one of the sweetest guys on the other side of the boundary rope. Bowling with a staggering accuracy of line and length, he made run-scoring very tedious for opposition batsmen.
‘Line and Strength’ is McGrath’s story, an account of grit and determination which made him a world champion bowler and the emotional aspect of the biggest loss of his life-the death of his wife. ‘Pigeon’ as he was fondly called, flies right into the heart of the reader.
Shoaib Akhtar
M: 46 Wickets: 178 Avg: 25.69 SR: 45.7 5W: 12 BBI: 6/11
Shoaib Akhtar featuring on this list will raise a lot of eyebrows. He faces tough competition from the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Broad who have also penned their life stories and went on to play far more Tests and pick more wickets than the Pakistani pacer, but the rawness and diversity that the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ brings to the table made me opt for him ahead of his contemporaries.
He was one of those players whom a captain would have handed the ball and just told to express himself. The sheer pace with which he fired the cricket ball not just gat him the famous moniker but also instilled a fear in the minds of the batsmen facing him.
‘Controversially Yours’ is an apt title to the story of a cricketer whom you can neither love nor hate.
James Anderson
M: 134 Wickets: 523 Avg: 27.40 SR: 56.5 5W: 25 BBI: 7/42
When he came into the English side in 2003, no one would have predicted such an illustrious bowling career for Jimmy Anderson. The young lad kept improving one season after another, developing bowling tact and techniques that helped him fox the best in the business.
Fitness played a huge role in his longevity at the highest level and with still a lot of cricket left in him, we shall see him christen his name as the top wicket taker amongst fast bowlers.
‘Jimmy: My story’ written in 2013 is Anderson’s reflection on his cricket career, vividly describing his highs and lows along the journey.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
