Five Cricket Players That Can Played Other Sports
Cricket is a popular sport that attracts a lot of fans around the world. However, some cricket players are not into only cricket, even though they excel at it. In this blog, let’s take a look at seven cricketers who played other sports professionally – and how they transitioned from one sport to the other.
Not to Miss: Cricketers Who Were Murdered
Yuzvendra Chahal – Chess
Yuzvendra Chahal is an Indian cricketer who has also represented India in chess. He is a right-arm leg-spinner who plays for Haryana in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
Chahal started playing chess at the age of 12 and quickly rose through the ranks. He represented India in the 2004 World Chess Olympiad and the 2006 Asian Games. He gave up chess after he was selected to play for India U-19 cricket team.
Andrew Flintoff – Boxing
Not many people know that Andrew Flintoff, one of England’s all-time greatest cricket players, also had a stint as a professional boxer. In fact, Flintoff even fought former world heavyweight champion David Haye in what was billed as “The Battle of the Codgers”
Although he lost the fight, Flintoff can certainly hold his own in the boxing ring. He even admitted that he enjoyed the physicality of boxing and the feeling of landing a good punch. Who knows, if he had taken up boxing full-time, he might have been just as successful in that sport too.
Also Enjoy: Cricketers Who Came Out of Retirement
Sir Ian Botham – Football
One of the all-time greats of cricket, Sir Ian Botham also had a spell playing professional football. He turned out for Scunthorpe United, during the 1981-82 season, making 11 appearances in all. Interestingly, his one and only goal came against Manchester United in a League Cup tie. He later joked that he owed his career in cricket to football, as it was while playing the latter sport that he broke his wrist, which prevented him from play cricket for six weeks – and by the time he returned, he had been snapped up by Yorkshire CCC.
Suzie Bates- Basketball
Suzie Bates is a former professional basketball player who represented New Zealand in the sport. She is also a former captain of the New Zealand women’s cricket team, and currently plays for the Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Bates began her career as a basketball player, representing New Zealand at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. She subsequently had a brief stint with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm before returning to her home country to play for the Canterbury Tactix in the ANBL.
Must See: Cricketers Who Wear Glasses
Ellyse Perry – Football
She’s a dual international, having represented Australia in both cricket and football. Perry made her cricket debut for Australia in 2007, before making her professional football debut in 2010. At just 25 years old, she became the youngest player to represent Australia in both sports.
Perry has said that she enjoys playing both sports, and that they complement each other well. She’s also said that she hopes to continue representing Australia in both cricket and football for many years to come.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many cricket players who have also played other sports. Some of these sports include football, rugby, and hockey. While cricket is the player’s primary sport, playing another sport can help to improve their skills and stamina.
Read More: Cricketers Who Changed Their Country
