Top 5 Rock legends who are huge cricket fans

Cricket is a poetic game. It is sheer poetry in motion though it is a game that tests one's strength, ability, temperament, and technique. There is something unique about the game of cricket which transits generation after generation and in bringing a range of emotions out of a cricket lover. The very nature of the game is that it brings curiosity at every moment of the game. The game has always stood by those have held game above themselves.

The same goes with the field of music. Just like cricket music takes us through a spectrum of emotions with every rhythm or even a single note for that matter. There has always been a great concern in the upbringing of one's own personality through those instruments and the same a cricketer.

Cricket was born in England, the home for many rock legends, who have always had a great admiration for cricketers. In this segment, let us look at five great rock legends who had a great connection with music.

5) Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)

Mark Knopfler is undoubtedly one of the most gifted guitarists of all time. His ability with the guitar has earned him a place amongst very best in his field. The rock legend though, may not have been seen in any stadium is quite a fan when it comes to cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar is often cited as the greatest batsmen of his generation, and when the master blaster met his music idol Mark Knopfler he was very happy to exchange his bat with now his most treasured item in his closet, a guitar personally signed by the Mark himself.

Mark Knopfler, being a Brit, could have escaped the aura of cricket and was surely gravitated to Sachin when they both met in 2005. Though Knopfler has never seen Sachin bat in a stadium, to which he calls as a great regret in his life, he was found recalling the extraordinary humility of Sachin during one of his interviews.

4) Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman was the famous bass guitarist of the Rolling Stones from 1962-1993 is known to be a huge admirer of the game. He has been around the game since his childhood and has continued to be close with the game ever since.

He is a very dear friend of Eric Clapton and hence is part of the Bunbury cricket club of which Eric is a huge part of. Bill has done many concerts and has played many games for the charities' fundraisers. Bill claimed that he took first ever televised hat-trick at the oval ground too.

In the same charity match, Wyman played for Bunbury XI and was found to be standing in the gully, for the catch, with a cigarette in between his index and middle finger. Later on, in the match, he had some advice for Sir Viv Richards on batting, however ironical that may seem.

3) Eric Clapton

A magician with the guitar, Eric Clapton is a huge cricket fan and can often be cited at Lord's during a high profile test series. The legendary musician has been a huge pillar in the development of Bunbury cricket club since its inception. He has played in many charity matches to raise funds for better causes.

The rock legend has been serving audience' ears with his melodies tunes since last five decades and has had a great friendship with many legendary players of the 70s and the 80s. He owns a place in Antigua and often catches up with West Indian batting maestro Sir Vivian Richards. Clapton has also written the foreword for one of Sir Viv's book "Hitting across the line".

Eric 'Slowhand' Clapton was found to be in Lord's stands to watch Indian cricketing demigod Sachin Tendulkar score his 100th 100! But it wasn't the case and Clapton had to sadly leave the stadium in dismay as Tendulkar suffered from a viral fever.

2) Sir Elton John

Sir Elton John, the legendary British rock legend who has enthralled the audience with his piano since last five decades is a huge cricket fan. He once said he liked tennis a lot but since it was only meant for girls in his schools he went onto to play cricket every summer.

Sir Elton John is a huge admirer of Test cricket. He was known for his friendship with ashes hero Sir Ian Botham and other English players like Allan Lamb, David Gower and Bob Willis. Sir Elton John was known for sharing his social life with many of the Australian players too. Sir Elton John praised British players when the urn returned home in 2005 famous Ashes series.

He dedicated his 1974 hit, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, to the 26-year-old, Phil Hughes who died in a tragic incident on a cricket field. He also consoled Sean Abbott.

1) Mick Jagger

The Rolling Stones is probably one of the greatest rock n roll band in the history. The Band has sold more than 66 million copies all around the world and they are still touring the world actively. Mick Jagger was so passionate about cricket that he founded Jagged Internetworks to cover cricket for himself.

He is known for charity work through cricket too. In fact, in the fifth Test match of the recently-concluded England-India series at Oval, Jagger proposed 20000 pounds for a century or a 5-for and 10000 pounds for a half-century all for the charity. It was estimated that a total of 1,10,000 pounds were raised from that match.

Mick Jagger also tweets regularly about Cricket and especially about Test cricket. He was seen amidst the crowd in first ever test match for Ireland cricket team.