It has been a decade since EA Cricket 07 was made available to cricket fans worldwide. The game was a superhit and remains relevant even now, with graphics and gameplay that were way ahead of its time in 2007.
To keep up to date with the latest developments in cricket, EA have consistently released patches for the game with updates that reflect squad changes. However, they have also come up with hilarious gaffes when it comes to naming players from teams who did not give the game an official license.
Also read: 5 ridiculously funny names of cricketers in EA Cricket 07
The teams which did not provide player naming licenses include India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the West Indies causing EA to take matters into their own hands. Read on to find out about five cricketers who play in the IPL and have hilarious nicknames in EA Cricket 07.
#1 D. Dhenier (MS Dhoni)
The former Indian skipper was in the process of becoming an integral part of the Indian setup when EA Cricket 07 was released in 2007. A dashing and fearless batsman and a captain with a keen instinct for the game, Dhoni or D. Dhenier as he was known in the game, also led the country to victory in the maiden T20 World Cup final against Pakistan.
While Dhoni has now retired from the Test format and given up the captaincy to Virat Kohli, he still commands a place in the limited-overs format and plays the finisher's role for India and IPL side Rising Pune Supergiant.
Other Indians with hilarious names include J. Krumble (Anil Kumble) and S. Gungly (Sourav Ganguly). While most of the Indian lineup in 2007 have retired now, some are still active and find a place on this list.
In spite of the gimmicky name, Dhenier remains a solid player in the game. His batting skills are well estimated with his attacking rating being 96. Dhoni has also been given special skills like, “Slogger” and “Demon Hooker”, showcasing his destructive attacking traits as a batsman. In addition to this, his wicket-keeping skills have also earned him an agility rating of 84.
#2 Yevray Singh (Yuvraj Singh)
While EA seem to have put in a lot of effort to make EA Cricket a realistic gaming experience with their eye for detail, some of the names given to players make no sense whatsoever. Such is the case with Yuvraj or should we say Yevray Singh on EA Cricket.
Yuvraj Singh was a player in his prime around the time EA Cricket was released. So much so that the game was released in India as Yuvraj Singh Cricket 07. In spite of this, Yuvraj was known as Yevray Singh in the Indian lineup.
What EA have managed to do well, though, is effectively capture the southpaw’s all-round abilities. The Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder has been given an impressive batting rating of 82 and his handy bowling abilities include the arm ball and the off-break, skills he showed during the 2011 World Cup where he was named the Man of the Series.
#3 Hurvaj Singh (Harbhajan Singh)
Harbhajan Singh’s name on the game is another example of negligence by the authorities in charge of player names at EA Cricket. Honestly, Huvraj sounds more like Yuvraj and would’ve clearly been a better fit for the southpaw than the Turbanator.
Harbhajan has rendered yeoman service to the country and Mumbai Indians and is currently winding down his career with the IPL outfit. While his stamina and consistency may have waned, he still remains a wily customer in the shortest format of the game.
Cricket 07 have recognised the offie’s talents and given him star skills including the doosra, arm ball, the teesra and his stock delivery, the off-break. Harbhajan also possesses handy batting skills which are portrayed by the fact that he has been given star capabilities of “miser”, “trickster” and “workhorse”.
#4 D. Brasco (Dwyane Bravo)
Dwayne Bravo’s all-round abilities have been crucial to West Indies and former IPL team Chennai Super Kings’ success. Bravo’s deceptive bowling and innovative batting abilities have made him a tricky customer in the shortest format of the game, also leading him to be named after Johnny Depp’s evergreen character who plotted the fall of the New York mafia, Donnie Brasco.
On EA Cricket, Brasco the bowler has multiple weapons in his armoury including out-swinger, in swinger, yorker and the slower ball. A handy batsman, his abilities with the bat are a tad underrated.
Currently on the roster of the Gujarat Lions, Bravo has made a name for himself as an all-round limited overs specialist.
#5 L. Malango (Lasith Malinga)
The Sri Lankan slinger is the only cricketer on the list who has been given a name that is remotely close to his real name. In this case, while EA might have got the name spot on, they messed up his bowling attributes.
Malinga during his time with the Mumbai Indians and the Sri Lankan side became famous for his unplayable, toe-crushing yorkers which he can deliver on demand. In spite of this ability, "Slinga Malinga" has only been given an accuracy rating of 60 and has no special skills to speak of, something which is pretty odd for a player of his calibre.
