Cricket is a game that is enjoyed by many fans all over the world. It is very popular and has been popular for a long time, and many famous people contributed to its popularisation. When it comes to the big names of cricket there is not any single name that comes to mind. Saying that he is the “godfather of cricket” means that he was a man who changed a lot on the cricket field.
They played their part to ensure that cricket today took the form that it has today. But who is this man? Some people dub him the godfather of cricket and want to know why. This article is dedicated to the person who received this special title. This is where we will discover who they are, what they did for cricket, and why they are significant to the game. Let’s begin our Cricket Godfather list.
Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer was an Australian businessman who revolutionized cricket. He was not satisfied with the manner cricket was televised so he began his own cricket tournament known as World Series Cricket in 1977. This was a big deal because cricket became more interesting to follow while watching on television.
In the beginning of the tournament, many people did not approve of Packer’s concepts. But soon, they realized how it made the game interesting to watch and this became the birth of defensive strategy. The changes, initiated by Packer, enabled the growth of the popularity of cricket all over the world. He also ensured players were paid better.
Because of this, attaining the status of a professional cricket player was a viable decision. Today, most of them that Packer initiated are common in cricket. What was once a novelty is no more; we now have day-night matches and colored kits. That is why many have referred to Kerry Packer as the godfather of modern cricket.
William Gilbert Grace
William Gilbert Grace, also known as W. G Grace, was an English cricketer who played in 1880- 1899. He is one of the greatest cricketers ever to have played the game. Grace was good with the bat, ball, and gloves too. He played cricket a long time back (1865-1908) when cricket wasn’t that much popular. In the same period, he accumulated more than 54,000 runs and claimed more than 2,800 wickets. That’s a lot!
Grace was characterized by his big beard as well as how he was able to dictate the pace of the match. He revolutionized cricket. Batsmen before Grace used to just block the ball only. But he proved that they too have the ability to get runs on the board. They named this man “The Champion” because he was excellent. Grace made cricket famous in England and throughout the entire world.
He was the man who made many people start watching and playing cricket. Despite the fact that he played a long time back, current cricketers discuss his performance and how good he was.
Don Bradman
This man was an Australian cricketer, who was probably the best batsman that has ever lived. He played from the year 1928 to 1948. Bradman was equally good at accumulating runs. He again had a great record in Test cricket and a batting average of 99.94. This means he had a batting average of nearly a hundred; that is, he used to score nearly 100 runs every time he went in to bat.
This record has been set and no other player has attempted a similar record. Bradman was such a good player that the England team had to invent a method of bowling specifically to get rid of him. They called it Bodyline.
Still, even that strategy did not yield good results against Bradman. He was noted to be goal-oriented and expert in striking the ball. He was idolized in Australia because he provided people with something to celebrate.
After he stopped playing, Bradman helped run cricket in Australia. He wrote books about cricket and helped train young players. Because of how good he was and how much he did for cricket, many people call Don Bradman the godfather of batting in cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar was an Indian cricketer who represented India between the years of 1971 to 1987. Indeed, he can rightly be regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time. Gavaskar’s nickname was the master batsman against fast bowlers. This was important because during his time there were many great fast bowlers which he needed to outdo.
He was the first man to make 10,000 runs in test cricket. Gavaskar also had the record for most hundreds or more in a Test innings for a long time. Gavaskar was not a tall man, but he was a lion-hearted man, especially against fast bowlers. He rarely used a helmet on the field especially when facing fast bowlers.
Became a commentator after he stopped playing the game. He discusses cricket on television and educates society on the details of the sport. Gavaskar also pens down his thoughts on cricket and has been involved in the management of cricket in India. Due to his batting skills and what he has achieved for Indian cricket, some people have nicknamed Sunil Gavaskar the godfather of Indian batting.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is a retired Indian cricket captain who was active between the years 2004 and 2020. He was a very calm man, especially when the situation was extremely tense. This made him be referred to as ‘Captain Cool. ’ Dhoni was a wicket-keeper and a good batsman. He was known for scoring games with big shots.
The Tendulkar era was also abridged under the leadership of Dhoni where India won many important tournaments. These are the T20 World Cup of 2007, the Cricket World Cup of 2011 in one day international, and the Champions Trophy of 2013. MS Dhoni revolutionized the way the Indian cricket team played the game.
He entrusted young players and assisted them to be icons. He was also very good with the DRS (Decision Review System). Even after he retired internationally for India he continued to play in the IPL (Indian Premier League). He is still a darling of the fans and many young cricketers emulate him.
Conclusion
So, who is the real godfather of cricket? Well, it’s not just one person. Each of these cricketers we talked about helped make the game what it is today. They all did important things for cricket in their own ways. From changing how the game is played to making it more popular, each one left its mark. Cricket has many godfathers, and the sport is better because of all of them.
Read: 6 ball 6 sixes records
