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Footballers Who Play Cricket
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in International Cricket, Pakistan Cricket
130 ViewsErrr, no. I can only think of one footballer who has mentioned the fact that he enjoys watching cricket and believe it or not he’s a German, Dietmar Hamann, formerly of Manchester City and currently a free agent. Yet not even he chooses cricket as a training exercise or to warm up so why is the opposite true? Why do cricketers choose football?
Knees: not supposed to bend sideways.
England’s Joe Denly just recently twisted his knee before the second ODI against Australia whilst playing football in a practice session. Now he comes from a nation that supposedly invented the sport. Yes, something else the English invented but are now rubbish at. Not only that, Denly actually had professional trials as a youngster but gave up after getting “shoved about a bit”. Do not be surprised if he retires from cricket in the near future. He sustained his injury after a challenge from the Karachi born Owais Shah.
Younis Khan, the Pakistan captain, is a big fan of football too and will be Pakistan’s ambassador at next year’s football World Cup in South Africa. From the picture below, I’d advise Younis to stick to his ambassadorial role only. Here we see him in not the most graceful of positions and had the ankle sprain fairy been around, it would have quite happily seized its moment. As Umar Gul prances along with his two inch high Nikes, I’m surprised neither came out with some sort of strain, although this may have been due to the fact that Owais Shah was nowhere in the vicinity.
Smile Umar, that ball’s heading for your face.
The ECB has now banned cricket as an exercise, a reaction which may seem a bit over the top if you simply analyse the two photos here which have a common theme. They involve players born in Pakistan I hear you say? No, the common theme is the type of footwear they are playing in. Playing football in cricket shoes is an ankle/knee sprain waiting to happen due to the thickness of the soles and the catching effect of the small spikes. Cricketers, if you want to be cool and play the only true global sport then at least do it using the proper footwear.
Just for the record, Pakistan’s football coach George Kottan, was so impressed by the footballing talent on show when he visited the Pakistan cricketers at a training camp, he said that four or five of them were ‘excellent’ footballers. So, we may have not invented the sport but we will soon be better at it than you, just like in cricket.
As for the ECB, they will now decide between either kiss-chase or hide and seek as warm up. I know the Australians play Aussie rules in their practice session but do not have a clue about what any of the other nations choose but I’m sure their fans will enlighten us.
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September 11th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I’ve seen England is now playing touch rugby instead.
Khan at 2010, can’t wait.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:25 am
According to Swann and Anderson Becks watches cricket. But he plays in the American Leagues now..not sure we can count him as a ‘footballer’ anymore.
September 12th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Bon,
How lucky are you? Champions trophy this year and footy World Cup next. Start saving for tickets! What do the Soufricans play?
Purn,
Leave Becks alone, he’s a decent guy. How do the Tigers warm up?
September 12th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
The last thing I would have thought was that the shoe must get blamed for Denly’s injury. But it is true, I know that buying a decent running shoe can make a lot of difference. Still there are squads playing soccer with their cricket shoes. SA playes soccer as well.
Stani, is soccer very popular in Pakistan? I know that SuperSport announced that the most viewed sport in SA is #1Rugby, #2Cricket and #3Soccer. I am not such a huge soccer fan but I am looking forward to 2010, it’s a once in a lifetime experience and I will make sure that I go and watch at least 1 game.
Purna, what is Canada’s national sport? Hockey?
September 13th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Bon,
It is the ultimate sport is football… but what is this ‘soccer’ you speak of?! I don’t think England had to ban it. The people that don’t understand it have clearly made that decision. I’m sure the footy ball will be back out before too long.
Football has become very popular in Pakistan. I think cricket has taken quite a hit from it. The beauty about football is that you just need a ball and you can play. Definitely go to a World Cup game or you will regret it. The tickets are much cheaper for you guys too.
September 13th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Stani, Becks is a glory hunter. He gave up his football career for fame.
The Tigers play football. It’s very popular in Bangladesh as well. Always has been.
Bon, Yeah it is Hockey. It’s the only thing we are good at.
Please won’t you buy my a ticket for the World Cup? I am so going to enjoy watching an African team go far this time.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Purn,
Not true. He sincerely went to your neighbours to help the MLS. Are you just jealous he’s not done anything for Canada? Footy’s popular among the Bangladeshi community here too. Much more than cricket which is a shame as Bangladesh could have called up any decent UK talent to play for them had the game flourished in the UK Bangladeshi community like it did in the Pakistani one.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Stani, A random question just popped into my head when I read your reply. ‘If the USA introduce their cricket team to the world, does this mean that Australia won’t be the most hated squad anymore?’
I am so used to the word Soccer, its the common word in all of Africa.
Purna, strangely I seem to be siding a lot with Stani. Becks is cool. Sorry dear.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
You two are Beckham lovers! Don’t get me wrong. He was a good player, he had the potential to do much more. But he decided that being famous was more important. There’s nothing wrong with that I guess. But I personally feel sportsmen should put their sport first.
Stani, did you slip Bon some ‘I love Stani’ potion?
September 14th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Bon,
Good point! Although in the U.S, America IS the world because no other countries exist!
Purn,
O per-lease. That’s such a easy accusation to make and typical of you that you should take up the chance to make it. He doesn’t put his sport first? Are you nuts?
You don’t understand what went on at your lover by Raul’s team Madrid when Becks was there. It’s all their fault.
Bon’s just being honest. Try it Purn.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:34 am
No I am not nuts. Real didn’t do anything. Becks moved to America to save his marriage. Posh couldn’t live in Spain because people didn’t like her skinny ass
. These are not from the tabloids so don’t even try to argue.
If he was too intimidated by my Raul and my Zidane then it’s not my problem.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Fantastic pic Stani on Younis
. On a closer look, those legs are rather scary.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Purn,
Straight out of those glossy magazines you read!
Madrid and Calderon messed him about over a contract extension so he had to go and sign elsewhere to safeguard his future.
Zidane’s not yours, he’s mine….umm, woops…you know what I mean.
Scorpi,
Thanks! Stop looking so closely at his legs. Not sure I can agree with you though as I’m not a legs man myself but I think I know what you mean
October 29th, 2009 at 7:58 am
IT IS SUCH A GREAT GAME OF CRICKET WE DONT WANNA COMPARE IT WITH SUCH A BORING GAME OF FOOTBALL OR SOCCR WHATEVER U WANNA CALL IT!!!
October 30th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
They will ban the England Players from taking part in Back Garden kick abouts next!
October 31st, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Shan
I have to disagree with you there. They don’t call it the beautiful game for no reason! We have to remember that in the history of cricket, it is only at its latter stages that the average man was able to play the game whereas football was something played by the poorest of children in the most run down of shanty towns. It has also done much more for people than cricket has.
I would also add that the governing bodies of football are much more stronger and would never allow someone like Lalit Modi to do what he’s done with cricket for example.
cricket bats
This country’s football mad. Don’t be surprised if we see the footballs reappearing in English warm ups before too long.
June 23rd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
So TJ is it coming home or are we going out of the WC today?
June 23rd, 2010 at 5:19 pm
No worries TJ, we are in the last 16
June 23rd, 2010 at 7:54 pm
@Maaaaaaaz –
More nail biting than it should have been! Much better performance from the players. More belief, more running and closing down, and better passing. Need to start putting those chances away but I must say the Slovenian keeper was top class.
June 24th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Chances against Germany TJ?
I sense this encounter going down to a set of penalties, should be a cracking game, too close to call!
Wayne Rooney really needs to come to the party for us. Joe Cole is a must play to start off with. I was impressed by Upson from WHUFC, your team of course
Peter Crouch should be used too!
I heard that they are going to strengthen the security considerably for this one, for obvious historical reasons between the two nations.
Did you get a day off to watch or watch it in the office against Slovenia like many? How is the fever spreading in your area ? Near my place, its buzzing with an excessive amount of patriotism and enthusiasm. Undoubtedly, nothing else can match such a sporting spectacle?
I backed Brazil prior to the tournament, who did you back to win it?
June 24th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
@Maaaaaaaz –
I think if England try to play football they will get over-run. Their best hope is to make it a boring defensive game and as you suggested, take it to penalties. I think Mesut Ozil will rip England to shreds.
None!
I’m not a big fan of Upson! If he plays against Germany, you will see why. He chases the game too much and is not very comfortable on the ball.
I don’t think Cole will start because of the way Miner performed. I would have liked Cole to start but coming on against Slovenia, he kept giving the ball away. He needs to stop trying to prove something every time he comes on and just play his natural game. I do think Crouchy has been unlucky and I think he’ll be a good weapon against the Germans. I would go with him and Rooney and bring Defoe on afterwards.
I did manage to watch the game. I think Argentina look very good. I’d put Brazil second, Spain third, Portugal and Germany joint fourth and then Holland fifth.
June 27th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I see why now
That was shocking and shambolic…………………………………
June 27th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
@Maaaaaaaz –
They should make me manager hey Maz?
July 24th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
u forgot christian vieri the legendary italian footballer….he says he wud have quit football if he was given a similar contract in cricket…he also says he wud have rather played cricket for the aussies than play football for italy
July 24th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
@Vishnu –
Very good Vishnu! He was born there or something wasn’t he? Certainly wasted his talent at football. Maybe his heart was set on cricket.