It would be fair to say that cricket is a sport that runs in the blood among sports fans in England and India. It's not just a sport that draws crowds. Over the years we have seen a wide range of amazing cricketers emerge from the two countries and in this quick article, we will discuss some of the best that ever existed.
It's worth mentioning that Cricket is a sport in which there is also a lot of interest from a betting point of view. After all, there is nothing more comfortable than cricket betting at home, to experience the excitement of the game without having to move to another place. As an example, a large number of Indians can use the best online cricket betting with Lottoland.
But now, without further ado, let us start this list of the best cricket player of all time, plus interesting facts about one of them, the great Sachin Tendulkar.
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Best cricketers of all time
Sir Donald Bradman
Sir Donald Bradman George is an Australian sporting hero and has been named one of the greatest batsmen of all time. His ability to strike the ball with impressive accuracy combined with his passion for the game made him extremely popular, and he went on to take the world by storm. With a test batting average of 99.94 and undeniable skill, Bradman remained a master cricketer throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Such was his talent that the England cricket team created a controversial set of Bodyline tactics that were designed to undo his success – but he continued to score prolifically. Bradman became the captain of the Australian team from 1936-48 and left a lasting impression on many sports fans.
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Sir Garfield Sobers
Former Barbadian cricketer and West Indies captain Sir Garfield Sobers was knighted in 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to cricket. The left-handed hitter made his Test debut in 1954 and at the age of 21 set a new record for the highest Test score with 365. He went on tour in 1956 and scored a half-century against England, an achievement that earned him an extensive fan base. Sobers was crowned the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1964 and held the Frank Worrell Trophy to the top as captain. He was named one of Barbados' 10 National Heroes in 1998 and was referred to in the media as King of Cricket.
Brian Lara
Like many world-famous cricketers, former West Indies batsman Brian Lara started his career at an early age. He started training at the Harvard Coaching Clinic and soon hit the headlines with his impressive cricket results. He became Trinidad and Tobago's youngest captain in 1990, aged just 20, and made his Test debut against Pakistan the same year. Recognized for his perfect positioning – high bat, bent forward knee and downcast eyes – he quickly rose to prominence and received the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year in 1994, as well as a winner of other awards.
Facts about Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest cricketer in history
Sachin Tendulkar, the great cricketer, retired from the Cricket World Cup, the ODI, in 2013. Basically, a legend in India, he made his nation proud by his actions on and off the pitch.
Having won thousands of fans around the world, he is an icon and celebrity in his country. Let's check out some interesting facts about him:
Sachin is a tennis player
At one point in his life, he considered pursuing his tennis career. Either way, tennis's loss is cricket's gain. Furthermore, Sachin is also a fan of a great legend of the sport, John McEnroe.
Almost was a bowler
He took bowling seriously until he was rejected by Dennis Lillee of the MRF Pace Foundation. It was Dennis who told him he should focus more on cricket than bowling.
He was sponsored by several brands
He earns around $16.5 million a year from various companies, a fact that has helped him become the richest cricketer in the world. These brands are Adidas, Pepsi, Visa, Fiat Palio, etc. But, the first one that sponsored him was Boost, an energetic, who also sponsored another cricket legend, Kapil Dev.
Sachin has many nicknames
Here are some of them: Little Master, Tendlya, the Little Champion, and the Master Blaster.
Have you ever won a Ferrari?
He was presented with a Ferrari by seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher in 2002. The gift was in honour of having equalled a record held by Don Bradman. He loves to drive around Mumbai in the dead of night when the streets are relatively empty.
It's hard to find him on the streets
Due to Sachin's popularity, he is often difficult to find in public. He sometimes disguises himself by wearing sunglasses and wide caps to go out in public. He once went to see the movie Roja wearing a beard and a disguise. But all this was in vain when the audience recognized him.
Statue
He is the only cricketer to have a statue at Madame Tussauds. These are just a few facts about this legendary player that goes beyond his great stats and performances.