The games cricketers play
Cricketers who excelled at other sports
Steven Lynch
28-Mar-2011
When he wasn't throwing himself across cricket grounds, Jonty Rhodes was racing across hockey fields • Adrian Murrell/Getty Images
Kenneth Gandar-Dower
One of Britain's leading tennis players in the 1930s, Gandar-Dower was also a good cricketer, although it had to fit in alongside his many other sports, which included football, fives, rackets, real tennis, squash and (presumably to fill the evenings) billiards. Later he became an aviator and an explorer, and in 1937 returned from Kenya with a dozen cheetahs, intending to race them on greyhound tracks. He had some success, although the animals, while fast, were not inclined to chase the hare. Gandar-Dower, who a few years earlier had demolished the famous Australian tennis player Harry Hopman in the annual Queen's Club tournament, caused a stir when he strolled into the club bar there accompanied by a cheetah.
One of Britain's leading tennis players in the 1930s, Gandar-Dower was also a good cricketer, although it had to fit in alongside his many other sports, which included football, fives, rackets, real tennis, squash and (presumably to fill the evenings) billiards. Later he became an aviator and an explorer, and in 1937 returned from Kenya with a dozen cheetahs, intending to race them on greyhound tracks. He had some success, although the animals, while fast, were not inclined to chase the hare. Gandar-Dower, who a few years earlier had demolished the famous Australian tennis player Harry Hopman in the annual Queen's Club tournament, caused a stir when he strolled into the club bar there accompanied by a cheetah.
Jeff Wilson
The closest thing in recent years to a double international, "Goldie" Wilson played four one-day internationals for New Zealand against Australia early in 1993, making an impression as a busy allrounder. Almost 12 years later (a record gap) he played two more - against Australia again - but did little. In between, he had carved out a fine career in rugby union, winning 60 caps for the All Blacks and scoring 44 tries, a record at the time.
The closest thing in recent years to a double international, "Goldie" Wilson played four one-day internationals for New Zealand against Australia early in 1993, making an impression as a busy allrounder. Almost 12 years later (a record gap) he played two more - against Australia again - but did little. In between, he had carved out a fine career in rugby union, winning 60 caps for the All Blacks and scoring 44 tries, a record at the time.
Woolf Barnato
The son of a rich South African diamond miner, Barnato entered the famous Le Mans 24-hour race three times - in 1928, 1929 and 1930 - and won it each time, co-driving a Bentley. He was also a familiar face at the Brooklands racetrack. When not behind the wheel he was a keen cricketer, and kept wicket in six first-class matches for Surrey - two in the County Championship, in one of which he stumped the Lancashire and England allrounder Len Hopwood.
The son of a rich South African diamond miner, Barnato entered the famous Le Mans 24-hour race three times - in 1928, 1929 and 1930 - and won it each time, co-driving a Bentley. He was also a familiar face at the Brooklands racetrack. When not behind the wheel he was a keen cricketer, and kept wicket in six first-class matches for Surrey - two in the County Championship, in one of which he stumped the Lancashire and England allrounder Len Hopwood.
CB Fry
It's almost impossible to compile a list like this without including Charles Burgess Fry, one of the brightest stars of cricket's Golden Age around the end of the 19th century. Fry once scored centuries in six successive first-class innings, a record that has still never been beaten, and captained England in six of his 26 Tests. He also played football for England, good-class rugby, and equalled the world long-jump record while at Oxford University in 1893. Legend has it that he was also offered the throne of Albania but declined.
It's almost impossible to compile a list like this without including Charles Burgess Fry, one of the brightest stars of cricket's Golden Age around the end of the 19th century. Fry once scored centuries in six successive first-class innings, a record that has still never been beaten, and captained England in six of his 26 Tests. He also played football for England, good-class rugby, and equalled the world long-jump record while at Oxford University in 1893. Legend has it that he was also offered the throne of Albania but declined.
Aasif Karim
A canny slow left-armer, Karim retired after the 1999 World Cup, in which he captained Kenya, only to be tempted back for the 2003 tournament, in which his country enjoyed their finest cricketing hour by reaching the semi-finals. Although he was 39 by then, Karim played his part, returning scarcely credible figures of 8.2-6-7-3 against Australia. Before all this he had played Davis Cup tennis for Kenya, although he lost all three of the matches he played, against Egypt in 1988. Only two men - India's Cotar Ramaswami and Ralph Legall of West Indies - have played Test cricket and Davis Cup tennis, although SM Hadi (who played alongside Ramaswami on India's 1936 tour of England) came close: he appeared in the Davis Cup but never did win a Test cap.
A canny slow left-armer, Karim retired after the 1999 World Cup, in which he captained Kenya, only to be tempted back for the 2003 tournament, in which his country enjoyed their finest cricketing hour by reaching the semi-finals. Although he was 39 by then, Karim played his part, returning scarcely credible figures of 8.2-6-7-3 against Australia. Before all this he had played Davis Cup tennis for Kenya, although he lost all three of the matches he played, against Egypt in 1988. Only two men - India's Cotar Ramaswami and Ralph Legall of West Indies - have played Test cricket and Davis Cup tennis, although SM Hadi (who played alongside Ramaswami on India's 1936 tour of England) came close: he appeared in the Davis Cup but never did win a Test cap.
Jonty Rhodes
Apart from being one of the most electrifying fieldsmen Test cricket has ever seen - and a pretty handy batsman too - Rhodes was also an accomplished hockey player. He won several international caps, and was part of the South African squad that attempted (but failed) to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. He also took part in trials for the 1996 Olympics - when South Africa did qualify - but tweaked a hamstring and did not make the final squad.
Apart from being one of the most electrifying fieldsmen Test cricket has ever seen - and a pretty handy batsman too - Rhodes was also an accomplished hockey player. He won several international caps, and was part of the South African squad that attempted (but failed) to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. He also took part in trials for the 1996 Olympics - when South Africa did qualify - but tweaked a hamstring and did not make the final squad.
Jack MacBryan
Jonty Rhodes did not quite make it to the Olympics, thus missing the chance to emulate MacBryan, who was part of the British hockey team that won gold in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. Four years later MacBryan, a successful amateur batsman for Somerset, won his one and only Test cap, against South Africa at Old Trafford in 1924. In a match in which only half a day's play was possible because of bad weather, MacBryan did not bat, bowl or take a catch... and was never selected again.
Jonty Rhodes did not quite make it to the Olympics, thus missing the chance to emulate MacBryan, who was part of the British hockey team that won gold in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. Four years later MacBryan, a successful amateur batsman for Somerset, won his one and only Test cap, against South Africa at Old Trafford in 1924. In a match in which only half a day's play was possible because of bad weather, MacBryan did not bat, bowl or take a catch... and was never selected again.
Bill Alley
The last man to score 3000 first-class runs in an English season, which he did in 1961 aged 42, Alley had a varied sporting career, starting in his native Sydney before the war. Always a fine cricketer, the chunky Alley was also a fine boxer: he won all 28 of his fights as a middleweight, and was tipped as a potential world champion (he might have been Australia's first; they did not have one until Jimmy Carruthers in 1952). But Alley suffered a freak injury in practice - his skull was fractured when he was hit by a ball from an adjacent net - and had to give up the ring. The injury set back his cricket career, too, and Alley never played for Australia despite being tipped to do so by Don Bradman. Instead he enjoyed a successful career in English county cricket for Somerset, playing on till he was almost 50, and later became a Test umpire.
The last man to score 3000 first-class runs in an English season, which he did in 1961 aged 42, Alley had a varied sporting career, starting in his native Sydney before the war. Always a fine cricketer, the chunky Alley was also a fine boxer: he won all 28 of his fights as a middleweight, and was tipped as a potential world champion (he might have been Australia's first; they did not have one until Jimmy Carruthers in 1952). But Alley suffered a freak injury in practice - his skull was fractured when he was hit by a ball from an adjacent net - and had to give up the ring. The injury set back his cricket career, too, and Alley never played for Australia despite being tipped to do so by Don Bradman. Instead he enjoyed a successful career in English county cricket for Somerset, playing on till he was almost 50, and later became a Test umpire.
Franklyn Stephenson
One of the best West Indian cricketers never to win a Test cap - his most productive seasons coincided with a time of fast-bowling riches - Stephenson did the double (1000 runs and 100 wickets) for Nottinghamshire in 1988. He finished with nearly 800 first-class wickets, plus almost 450 in List A matches, at under 20 apiece, many of them with his patent looping slower ball, which claimed several distinguished scalps. Tall and lanky, Stephenson then turned to golf, with great success: he's now the resident professional at the prestigious Sandy Lane resort in his native Barbados.
One of the best West Indian cricketers never to win a Test cap - his most productive seasons coincided with a time of fast-bowling riches - Stephenson did the double (1000 runs and 100 wickets) for Nottinghamshire in 1988. He finished with nearly 800 first-class wickets, plus almost 450 in List A matches, at under 20 apiece, many of them with his patent looping slower ball, which claimed several distinguished scalps. Tall and lanky, Stephenson then turned to golf, with great success: he's now the resident professional at the prestigious Sandy Lane resort in his native Barbados.
Rudi van Vuuren
Windhoek doctor van Vuuren not only played in two separate World Cups - the cricket and rugby union versions - but did so in the same year, 2003. When England did their usual job of encouraging the minnows at the cricket World Cup by making a meal of beating Namibia, van Vuuren opened the bowling and took 5 for 43. He might have wished he had an urgent medical appointment later in the tournament, though, when his 10 overs against Australia were carted for 92. Later in 2003, van Vuuren was in Namibia's squad for the rugby World Cup, and played in the defeat by Romania.
Windhoek doctor van Vuuren not only played in two separate World Cups - the cricket and rugby union versions - but did so in the same year, 2003. When England did their usual job of encouraging the minnows at the cricket World Cup by making a meal of beating Namibia, van Vuuren opened the bowling and took 5 for 43. He might have wished he had an urgent medical appointment later in the tournament, though, when his 10 overs against Australia were carted for 92. Later in 2003, van Vuuren was in Namibia's squad for the rugby World Cup, and played in the defeat by Romania.
Tony Wilding
An elegant New Zealander who won the men's singles at Wimbledon four years running, between 1910 and 1913, Wilding also played two first-class cricket matches for Canterbury as a teenager, taking 3 for 22 against Auckland in the first of them. Chances of further honours - at tennis or cricket - ended when he was killed in action in France in 1915.
An elegant New Zealander who won the men's singles at Wimbledon four years running, between 1910 and 1913, Wilding also played two first-class cricket matches for Canterbury as a teenager, taking 3 for 22 against Auckland in the first of them. Chances of further honours - at tennis or cricket - ended when he was killed in action in France in 1915.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket 2011. And Ask Steven is now on Facebook