Cricketers who braved injuries and continued to play for their country

Injuries have always been a part of the game in cricket or in any other sport. We have seen broken jaws and limbs as a result of players colliding with each other or getting hit by the ball on several occasions. We all remember the tragedy that took the life of Raman Lamba. One more recent bad memory is that of Australian batsman Phil Hughes, who collapsed on the field was later declared dead.Sometimes, however, we see individuals playing on despite carrying injuries. They go through all the pain, stick in there and sometimes even win the match for their teams.Here are a few matches when cricket players braved injuries to resume playing for their team:

#6 Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith bats with a broken hand at the SCG

2009 saw one of the most hard-fought Test series between two of the strongest sides, South Africa and Australia. Playing against Australia in their own backyard is never easy. South Africa pulled off a miraculous 414-run chase in the first Test and Dale Steyn ensured South Africa won the series in the next match.

The final Test in Sydney was played in no different spirit. After scoring 394 in the first innings, Australia restricted South Africa to a total of 327. In the same innings they even lost their captain Graeme Smith to what looked like a serious injury. When Smith was on 30, Mitchell Johnson sent down a thunderbolt that rapped down Smith, breaking his left hand.

Australia scored 257 in their second innings setting up a huge target of 376 for South Africa to win the match. When Steyn got out as the ninth wicket with 9 overs left everyone thought that the match was over. Just then the Proteas skipper came out to bat with a bandage on his hand. With injections and painkillers, he hung around in pain.

Makhaya Ntini was equally resolute on the other end. The duo fought bravely till Mitchell Johnson finally managed to get Smith out, ending his 17-ball knock. Australia won the match by 103 runs with 10 balls left.

#5 Wahab Riaz

Wahab Riaz had lit the World Cup 2015 up with one fiery spell

Ever since his furious spell against Shane Watson in the ICC World Cup, Wahab Riaz has been a completely different individual.

While batting in the first innings of the second Test against Sri Lanka, he was sadly struck on the glove by a delivery from Dushmantha Chameera and suffered a hairline fracture on his left arm which is supposed to be his bowling arm too. Even that didn’t stop him from bowling 11 overs out of which two were maidens before he had to be taken off the field as the pain was too severe.

He came out to bat at no. 11 in the second innings with a broken arm and scored 6 runs from 11 balls. He continued to fight with the pain and was not content to just see off the bowling. He even asked for a review after being given out which was ruled in favour of the bowling side, thus ending his heroics.

#4 Gary Kirsten

Gary Kirsten felled by Shoaib Akhtar

While playing against Pakistan in 2003, Gary Kirsten walked in to bat at no.3 in the Lahore Test. He was at his usual solid best before getting hit by a Shoaib Akhtar bouncer.

Shoaib, bowling round the wicket dug in a short delivery. The well-set left-hander looked to pull it but was beaten by the pace as the ball smashed his face. He was down immediately and had to retire on 53 runs. An X-ray scan revealed that he had a broken nose.

Pakistan was moving towards a comfortable victory as South Africa was restricted for 146 for 4 in their second innings. Kirsten, with a barely recognisable face, walked in to bat and scored 46 runs before getting out as the seventh wicket.

Pakistan eventually won the match by 8 wickets, but Kirsten’s heroic batting remained a talking point for years to come.

#3 Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble’s bravest hour

When we talk about grit and determination there are not many people who will fall in the same category with Anil Kumble. May it be leading his team or scoring for the team in difficult times, Kumble has always stepped up when needed.

One of the most immortalised moment in Indian cricket came during the 2002 Antigua Test. While batting against West Indies Kumble was hit on the jaw by a Marvin Dillon lifter. He spat out the blood and continued batting without showing any pain. Later he found that the jaw was fractured and was asked to leave for Bengaluru for a surgery. What followed was completely insane.

Next morning Kumble came out with a bandage around his face and neck. He bowled 14 overs, 5 of which were maidens and also picked up the wicket of Brian Lara. The match ended as a draw.

#2 Malcolm Marshall

Malcolm Marshall’s one-handed trick

Malcolm Marshall was considered to be one of the best pacers during his era. The tall fast bowler destroyed even the strongest of batting orders on his day so when he broke his thumb into two pieces on the very first day of Headingly Test in 1984, England must have thought that they had a huge advantage.

England scored 270 runs in their first innings. West indies managed to take the lead because of some decent contributions. When Joel Garner got out as the ninth wicket with Gomes not out on 96 on the other end, everyone thought that the innings was over. But to everyone’s surprise, Marshall came out to bat out and hung around to make sure that Gomes got his century. He kept swinging with one hand and was out as the last wicket.

If you think that was brave, to everyone’s shock he not only took the field when England came out to bat, but also opened the bowling for West Indies. He finished with outstanding figures of 53/7.

#1 Bert Sutcliffe

In a match against South Africa in 1953, Kiwi fans were treated to what still remains one of the bravest gestures in cricket history. South Africa scored 271 runs before Neil Adcock and David Ironside took charge with the ball.

On a wicket that was favorable to fast bowlers they kept hitting the batsmen. One of those steep bouncers hit Sutcliffe on the side of his head. Sutcliffe was down on the field and was immediately taken to the hospital.

Although the X-ray showed no fracture, his ear lobe had split and he had a huge swelling behind his ear. He was advised to rest and was sent back to the ground. However, after watching his teammates falling early, he decided to come out to bat with a bandaged head.

He scored 80 runs forming a good partnership with young New Zealand batsman Bob Blair. The duo scored 25 runs of an over, which remained a record for nearly 25 years.

South Africa won the match by 132 runs, but Sutcliffe will always be remembered for the courage that he showed.