Cricket is a sport with an excellent history that can be measured in centuries and legendary players have been created in history . Godfather of Cricket is not the official title but is often used for those that have had a great influence on the sport. Several players, administrators and visionaries have left a long lasting impression to earn the title of godfather of cricket.
Now, who is the godfather of cricket? Keep reading as we have mentioned the names of those cricketers below.
Table of Contents
Who Is the Godfather of Cricket?
When discussing who is the godfather of cricket, several legendary figures emerge:
W.G. Grace: The Pioneer
W.G. Grace, English cricketer of late 19th century, is considered as the God of Cricket. He made significant contributions to cricket especially in batting and professionalism which made what cricket had become today. Grace changed batting, by promoting more footwork and shot selection, hence more strategy in the game. His contribution did not stop at the pitch as he rode a long way to making popular cricket among the masses.
Don Bradman: The Greatest Batsman
Sir Donald Bradman, widely acclaimed as the greatest batsman of all-time had a Test batting average of 99.94. His batting performances, thus, redefined batting standards, and his records remain unbroken. Bradman’s consistency and skill solidified his place as right contradicted in the global reach and popularity of cricket.
Sir Garfield Sobers: The Complete Cricketer
Sir Garfield Sobers the legendary all-rounder of the West Indies had an impressive ability with all phases of the game. He was the first man to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket and was key in West Indies emergence as a force to be reckoned with in the cricketing world. His ability to bat as well as bowl cemented him place as one of the greatest all-rounders.
Clive Lloyd: The Captain Who Changed West Indies Cricket
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, who was the force behind his team’s successes in two back to back World Cup in 1975 and 1979. Under his leadership, the West Indies team, consisted their fearsome fast bowling and aggressive batting, become Unstopable in world of cricket. Lloyd captaincy and vision contributed to shape the era of West Indies dominance.
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Who is the Godfather of Cricket in India?
While W.G. Grace is indeed known as the godfather of cricket at international grounds, however, india has its own cricketing icons who have played a same sort of innings in defining the game. When the hunt is on to find out who is the godfather of cricket in India, two names stands out Sunil Gavaskar and MS Dhoni.
Sunil Gavaskar: The Godfather of Indian Cricket
Sunil Gavaskar is also known as the Godfather of Indian Cricket because of his contribution back in 1970s and 80s. He was the first batsman of India to take double figure of 10,000 runs in Test cricket and made many record and made a way for the cricketer to be produced by India. His game against bowlers was the best, it motivated the generations of players.
MS Dhoni: New God of Cricket in all formats
MS Dhoni is considered to be the new god of cricket in all formats due to his leadership and influence. As captain Dhoni took India to wins in all major ICC events, in 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy. His composed attitude and tactical thinking have made him the most respected leaders in the history of cricket.
Kerry Packer: A Visionary in Cricket
Aside from players, some individuals have ruled cricket off the pitch. The way in which Australian media mogul Kerry Packer took cricket to the world with his World Series Cricket project in the late 1970s. His innovations such as day-night games, colored clothing and improved player wages changed the game and made it more profitable. Some call him the godfather of cricket when it comes to modernization and global reach.
Conclusion
The question of who is the godfather of cricket does not have one single answer. Whereas W.G. Grace is often regarded as the original godfather of the cricket, Don Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers and Clive Lloyd too have plenty of a transformative role on the game. Sunil Gavaskar and MS Dhoni have this title in Indian Cricket whereas Kerry Packer revolutionized the game. Each of them has left a lasting impact, making cricket what it is today – a global phenomenon.
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