Cricketers In Their Childhood - Rare Photographs

Rare Childhood Photographs of Cricketers

Childhood Picture of Andrew Staruss

Childhood Picture of Chris Cairns

Childhood Picture of M.S.Dhoni

Gautam Gambhir with his sister Ekta

Childhood Picture of Imran Khan

Childhood Picture of Rahul Dravid

Childhood Picture of Ricky Ponting

Sachin Tendulkar with Coach Mr. R. Achrekar

The Great with The Greatest- Sachin Tendulkar (right) with Sir Don Bradman (left)

Childhood Picture of Sachin Tendulkar

Childhood Picture of Saurav Ganguly

Childhood Pictures of Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh

Childhood Picture of Wasim Akram

Childhood Picture of Yuvraj Singh

Childhood Picture of Zaheer Khan

Stephanie Rice, Queensland Cricket, Brisbane Lions Helps 5-year-old Zachary Archer

Australian Olympian swimmer Stephanie Rice is leading from the front for a noble cause. She is leading to help 5-year-old Zachary Archer who becomes the first Australian to receive cutting-edge cord-blood therapy in a US trial.

Five-year-old schoolboy Zachary Archer, who had suffered a stroke aged four months will travel to North Carolina’s Duke University in September for the ground-breaking treatment.

If successful, the cord-blood therapy will reduce muscle spasticity in Zachary’s right side caused by cerebral palsy and ease epileptic seizures.

Rice has donated a signed Australian tracksuit as the Archer family muster items to be pitched at a fundraiser for Zachary. Organisations such as Queensland Cricket and the Brisbane Lions, along with a variety of local businesses, including Stefan Hair and Westfield, have contributed to the school disco fundraiser at StDympna’s Primary School in Aspley on September 3.

But the medical treatment is expensive, with the Archer family not expecting to see any change from $40,000.
To donate, phone Mr Archer on 0403698866.

Image Courtesy: Northside-chronicle.whereilive.com.au

Koby is the Love Child of Dean Jones (Australian Cricketer) and Kerri-Anne Hamilton

Former Australian Cricketer Dean Jones admits that Koby is his and Kerri-Anne Hamilton's love Child

(From Left) Dean Jones with his wife Jane, Kerri-Anne Hamilton (Below) Kerri-Anne Hamilton with her Dean Jones's son Koby

Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones has admitted fathering a child with flight attendant Kerri-Anne Hamilton from Sydney. The 49-year-old Victorian cricketer has admitted to the nine-year affair with Kerri-Anne Hamilton.

35-year-old Hamilton, gave birth to a boy, Koby, in August last year. The pair first met in the late 1990s at a celebrity golf day.

Dean Jones has been married to wife Jane for 24 years and has two teenage daughters, Phoebe, 19 and Isabella, 14. In a statement released to the Sunday Herald Sun, Jones pleaded for privacy after the long-term extramarital affair.

As reported from News.co.au Jones pleaded for privacy after the long-term extramarital affair.

In a statement released to the Sunday Herald Sun, Jones pleaded for privacy after the long-term extramarital affair.

"Following an on-and-off relationship with a woman, a child was conceived and subsequently delivered," Jones said.

"I can also confirm that I have supported the mother and child more generously than was agreed.

"At no stage, have I not met my obligations. My immediate aim is to seek the forgiveness and understanding of family.

"I am therefore asking that you respect our privacy."


Ms Hamilton was working as a promotions model at the time. A source said the relationship soured last year when a six-months pregnant Hamilton asked Jones for child support payments. It is believed Jones has not yet met his 11-month-old son, however, he agreed to pay child support after a positive paternity test.

Image Courtesy: Whatsonxiamen.com, Womansday.ninemsn.com.au

Eric Tindill- Oldest "All Black" and Test Cricketer Dies at 99!

Oldest "All Black" and Surviving Test Cricketer Eric Tindill Dies at 99

New Zealand All Blacks Piri Weepu and Molly Tindill with former New Zealand All Black and Test Cricketer Eric Tindill in his 99th birthday at his home on December 18, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand

Eric Tindill- who has the unique status to represent New Zealand in both Cricket and Rugby as a player and referee (Rugby) and Umpire (Cricket) died on Sunday in Wellington Hospital. He was 99 years 226 days.

At 99 years, he was the longest living Test Cricketer and oldest Rugby international.

A left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper, Eric Tindill played five cricket Tests for New Zealand between 1937 and 1947. He also represented the All Blacks rugby team 17 times between 1935 and 1938, making his only Test appearance in a 13-0 loss to England in 1936.

He was referee in two rugby Tests between the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions in 1950 and New Zealand's second Test against Australia in 1955. He then umpired New Zealand's cricket Test against England at Christchurch in the summer of 1958-59.

Although George Dickinson, Curly Page, Charlie Oliver, Jeff Wilson and Brian McKechnie also represented New Zealand in both rugby and cricket, Tindill was the only player to play Tests in both the sports.

May His Soul Rest in Peace!

News Courtesy: The Canadian Associated Press
Image Courtesy: Zimbio.com

Sussex Cricket Fans Hit by Meteorites?

Jan Marszal, 51, and Richard Haynes, 52 with two pieces of meteorites

Two English cricket fans claim that they were hit by meteorites when they were watching a county cricket match between Middlesex and Sussex in Uxbridge when it hurtled towards them. Jan Marszal, 51, and Richard Haynes, 52 were the two Sussex fans that claim such incident.

One piece struck Mr Marszal on the chest, while the other bounced on the boundary board. They described the rock landing five yards inside the boundary, before breaking in two, with one part bouncing up and striking Marszal on the chest.

Mr Marszal, an IT consultant, said: "'We were sitting at the boundary edge when all of a sudden, out of a blue sky, we saw this small dark object hurtling towards us.

"'It landed five yards inside the boundary and split into two pieces.

"One piece bounced up and hit me in the chest and the other ended up against the boundary board." (as reported by Uxbridgegazette.co.uk)

Meteorite expert Dr Matthew Genge said: "It would be the first fall in the UK since 1992."

Picture Courtesy: Dailymail.co.uk

Glamorgan's Robert Croft Claims 1,000 First-Class Wicket!

After Peter Sainsbury, now Robert Croft. This English player, who plays for english county side Glamorgon took his 1,000th first-class wicket for his county on Thursday (22nd July, 2010).

40-year-old Robert Croft reached this milestone when he dismissed Leicestershire’s Wayne White and joined the elite club of 10,000 runs and 1,000 first-class wickets for just one club after Hampshire's Peter Sainsbury in 1972.

He also joins the elite club of 10,000 runs and 1,000 first-class wickets (who has played for more than one club) along with eight other county cricketers, i.e. Trevor Bailey, Tony Brown, Tom Cartwright, Ray Illingworth, Derek Morgan, John Mortimore, Peter Sainsbury and Fred Titmus.

He is now the 4th Glamorgan after Don Sheherd, Jack Mercer and Johnnie Clay to claim 1,000 first-class wickets for the Welsh county.

Image Courtesy: Glamorgancricket.com

The Legend Muttiah Muralitharan Makes it 800!

Sri Lankan legend off-spinner 38-year-old Muttiah Muralitharan becomes the fist cricketer in the history of the game to claim 800 wickets. His 800th victim was Pragyan Ojha of India, when he was caught by Mahela Jayawardena on the fifth day of the 1st Test against India on Thursday (22nd July, 2010) at Galle.

Mutiah Muralitharan is the leading wicket-taker in tests and one-day internationals. He has reached this milestone in his final test match appearance.

In Picture: Muttiah Muralitharan just after the historic moment with his teammates

"The Tendulkar Opus" - Sachin "Bleeds" for His Biography- 10 Limited Edition

Ten limited edition copies of Sachin Tendulkar's autobiography, The Tendulkar Opus, will be released in February 2011. Each book to weigh 37 kilograms (80lb). All 10 has been pre-ordered.

Each book (Ten limited edition copies) would be printed containing a signature page mixed with Sachin's own blood and would cost $75,000 (£49,000) (Rs. 35 lacs) each.

The book has more than 1,500 pictures in 852 pages and each page will be edged in gold leaf.

The book will be produced by Kraken Opus, the publishing company owned by former investment banker Karl Fowler. His previous subjects have included Ferrari, Diego Maradona and Michael Jackson.

Diego Maradona Opus

The Ferrari Opus

The Michael Jackson Opus

Image Courtesy: Krakenopus.com

World Record: Oliver Hardaker Smashed 329 (Not Out) Runs in 144 Balls

Teenage cricketer Oliver Hardaker smashed a world-record of 329 runs not out in one day.

Oliver blasted 27 sixes and 28 fours during his 144-ball local cup match knock that puts Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar in the shade.

At one stage he hit five sixes and a four in one over. The 18-year-old said there was only one chance to get him out – and that was when he was on 140.

'It was the best day of my life. My best previous score was 100 not out,' said Oliver.

'I've played cricket since I was five years old and I would love to become a professional cricketer.

'I've got Yorkshire Under-19 trials later in the summer.'

Oliver's mammoth innings came for Horsforth cricket club against Upper Wharfedale in North Yorkshire.

Image Courtesy: Dailymail.co.uk

Aimee Watkins, Stephanie Rice Rated World's Sexiest Sportswoman

Lindsay Vonn (Skier), Stephanie Rice (Swimmer), Nicole Vaidisova (Tennis), Aimee Watkins (Cricketer)
New Zealand women's cricket captain Aimee Watkins has been rated among the world's 64 hottest female athletes alongside American skier Lindsay Vonn, Aussie swimmer Stephanie Rice and Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidisova.


27-year-old Watkins admitted the ratings by Yahoo!Xtra came as surprise, as she does not consider herself as one of the world's sexiest sportswomen.

"I didn't know anything about it," Watkins said. "I've seen it now. Mum gave me a call and she was pretty excited and told me to go on and have a look. Since then I've had a bit of stick but, oh well. It's all a bit foreign to me."


Sports editor of Yahoo!Xtra, Mike Kilpatrick, the main driving force behind the idea of finding the sexiest sportswoman, said he had been following Aimee Watkins' career since he was at university and she seemed like a natural choice for the top 64.

"We equally appreciate field talent as much as their looks," he said. "I consider Aimee one of the foremost talents in women's cricket.


News Courtesy: Stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket

Chris Gayle "Dirty Dancing" with Sherlyn Chopra in Kolkata Hotel- Pics

On Saturday night after SRK’s team crushed Shilpa Shetty’s at the Eden Garden, the mood was set for a great celebration with a fashion show for the cricketers and guests followed by a disco night.

A source confirms that Chris Gayle took an instant liking to Sherlyn Chopra when he met her at the bar. Soon Manoj Tiwari, Murali Kartik and Ishant Sharma joined the twosome.

The gang then hit the dance floor. Sherlyn and Chris seemed to be having a great time. So much so that they took dirty dancing to a whole new level. Both were strutting their stuff and showing off hot, raunchy moves. The couple later exited the dance floor to get away for some quiet time.

Image Courtesy: Telegraphindia.com

Umar Gul and Arafat Out of Pakistan's T20 Squad

Defending champions Pakistan suffered a double blow when pacer Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat were ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the WestIndies after failing to recover from injuries sustained during the ongoing preparatory camp in Lahore.

The selectors have recommended the names of Mohammad Sami and uncapped Mohammad Irfan as their replacements, however, a final decision would be taken by thePCB Chairman Ejaz Butt.

Chief selector, Mohsin Khan told reporters here that both Gul and Arafat failed to clear the final fitness test on Sunday.

Adolf Hitler Wanted to “Nazify” Cricket

Adolf Hitler, the German dictator, had once played cricket and had wanted to "Nazify" the game by rewriting its rules, according to a new book. The book says that after the game, the Fuhrer had “advocated the withdrawal of the use of pads” because the "artificial bolsters" were "unmanly and un-German". The Fuhrer, had an ulterior motive for wanting to learn the game. “He desired to study it as a possible medium for the training of troops off duty and in times of peace. He also wanted the game to be Nazified,” The Times said quoting the 1930 article.

The Mirror piece that appeared under the headline “Adolf Hitler As I Know Him” on September 30, 1930, was written by Oliver Locker-Lampson, an MP and fervent admirer of Hitler.

It revealed that the dictator was taught the rules of the game by British troops to play a friendly match against some POWs of the First World War. He informs how in 1923, shortly after the Munich putsch, Hitler had asked some British POWs to teach the game and how, they (prisoners of war) have written the rules for him in the best British sport-loving spirit“.

The Oliver Locker-Lampson’s article, however, fails to inform who won the match.

News Courtesy: TheHindu.com

Uganda U-19 Cricket Players Missing in Canada

Seven members of the Uganda Under-19 cricket team have failed to return home after they went missing in Canada where they were taking part in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, an official said here on Wednesday.

The Uganda Cricket Association spokesman Latimer Mukasa said the players left the camp in Toronto on Saturday, two days before their return to Kampala at the completion of the tournament, where Uganda failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in New Zealand.

He said the Canadian police have been alerted to search for the players who left without their travel documents.

The missing players include team captain Ahmed Yakub and top scorer Andrew Ochan. Others are Emmanuel Nakaana, Ahmed Sangau, Moses Okwera, Geoffrey Nyero and Michael Abala.

News Courtesy: Google AFP

Sri Lankan Cricket Team Attacked by Gunmen in Lahore

The bus of Sri Lankan Cricket team were attacked by gunmen today in Lahore, when they were way to the Gadaffi Stadium. At least 4 persons were killed, according to witnesses and cricket officials. Sri Lankan media said four of their players received injuries in the attack - Sangakara, Mendis, Samaraweera and Tharanga.

A witness told Reuters he believed two police commandos were killed along with a regular policeman and a traffic warden. Shopkeeper Ahmed Ali said the two police commandos had been driving behind the team bus when they were hit.

"It was a very heavy firing and I heard at least two explosions at the time," said a Reuters witness who had been on his way to cover the test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

City police chief Haji Habibur Rehman said:"It was a terrorist attack and the terrorists used rocket launchers, hand grenades and other weapons."

The attackers had managed to flee, he added.

The test match has been cancelled, officials said.

News Source: Reuters, http://news.sky.com/

Pink Cricket Balls For Test Matches?

The first move towards a night cricket Test in Australia will take place when a radical new pink cricket ball is put on trial in celebrity Twenty20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh, who is also a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) technical committee, will introduce the ball this weekend and is keen to get feedback from the likes of former Test stars Matthew Hayden, Mark Taylor and Michael Slater.

Modern sporting market focuses on events after dark, so now the race is on to develop a ball that can last 90 overs and be seen under lights.

Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman Peter Young said he was keen to see how the pink ball performed and night Tests were a definite item on the governing body`s agenda.

He added that a pale blue ball had also been discussed, given the traditional red ball could not be seen at night and the white One-day ball became too dirty.

News and Image Source: Zeenews.com

2009 Women's Cricket World Cup Approaches

It doesn't get the same attention as the men's World Cup but the women's cricket World Cup is about to get under way in Australia. Eight teams will be split into two groups of four. They will play each other once with the top six progressing to the Super Six's. Following that a final will be played.

This is the ninth time the World Cup will be played since the first one occurred in 1973 – ironically some two years before the first male tournament. The World Cup is returning to Australia after a 21 year absence.

Australia are the defending champions and have won the tournament five times; England have won it twice and New Zealand once.

The World Cup won't get anywhere near the attention that the Ashes 2009 will get but that shouldn't diminish the exploits of these fine cricketers.

Ashes 2009 Five Months Away But Already Looms Large

THE ASHES SERIES 2009

If the Australian Open and Superbowl are anything to go by, 2009 should be a massive year in sports. For cricket fans, there will another edition of the Indian Premier League to look forward to, the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes which will undoubtedly be the highlight.

The previous Ashes series in England was one of the best cricket series ever witnessed so there are high hopes that Ashes 2009 will deliver just as much drama, tension and excitement.

Currently Ashes betting is pretty even with Australia considered the slight favorites. This could well change by the time the first ball is bowled at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on July 8.

It will be interesting to see how England bounce back from the Kevin Pietersen – Peter Moores debacle. They are currently in the West Indies while Australia has a tough tour of South Africa ahead of them. If they lose that series, they will also lose the number one ranking.

Cricket: Morne Morkel Racially Abused by Australian Crowd

A member of the crowd at Hobart's Bellerive Oval was charged with abusing a white South African player during the Australia against South Africa one-day-international.

A Cricket Australia spokesman said a person in the crowd allegedly racially abused Morne Morkel during the Australian innings yesterday morning.

Morkel, 12th man in yesterday's one day international match, did not clearly hear the insult, but a spokesman for the South African team said the remark was "fairly unpleasant".

Cricket Australia said last night it had contacted the South African team and the nation's cricket authorities over the issue.

A policeman at the ground overheard the abuse and interviewed the alleged offender, who was last night charged with racial vilification. The incident, which took the polish off Australia's dramatic five-run victory yesterday, follows a string of racial controversies in cricket.


News Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
Image Source: Neil Richardson of http://www.examiner.com.au/

Cricket : Middlesex Captain Ed Smith Retires

Middlesex captain Ed Smith retires from first-class cricket.

The 31-year-old Smith struggled with an ankle injury last season and was to be replaced by Shaun Udal as captain. And rather than drop back into the ranks, he has decided to bring the curtain down on his 12-year first-class career.

"It has been a real honour to captain Middlesex," he said.

"I have been very lucky to play first-class cricket for eight years at Kent and four years at Middlesex.

"I'd like to thank all the players, coaches and supporters who have helped me enjoy the game I love.

"I wish Shaun Udal and the team every success in the future".


The Cambridge graduate, who played three Tests against South Africa in the summer of 2003, spent eight years at Kent before switching to Middlesex after the 2004 season.

Ed Smith made 12,789 runs in 191 first-class matches, scoring 34 hundreds and averaging 41.79 with a highest score of 213.

Middlesex chairman Ian Lovett said: "Ed has always shown exceptionally high levels of energy, commitment and dedication to everything he does."