The namesakes
Cricketers who were named after famous predecessors
Steven Lynch
23-May-2011
Curtly Ambrose was named after a missionary whose grandson went on to be a cricketer • PA Photos
Curtly Ambrose
For years it was assumed that the towering Antiguan fast bowler Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose owed his third name to the Australian fast bowler Ray Lindwall. But the Sun newspaper added to the legend - and the dodgy spellings - in 2003 when they revealed that his first name had a cricketing link as well. Apparently he was named after the grandfather of the Sussex and England fast bowler James Kirtley, who "worked as a minister and missionary in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean during the 1960s", according to John Etheridge. "He travelled extensively in the area and his three sons were each born on different islands. He is thought to have baptised baby Ambrose while in Antigua in 1963."
For years it was assumed that the towering Antiguan fast bowler Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose owed his third name to the Australian fast bowler Ray Lindwall. But the Sun newspaper added to the legend - and the dodgy spellings - in 2003 when they revealed that his first name had a cricketing link as well. Apparently he was named after the grandfather of the Sussex and England fast bowler James Kirtley, who "worked as a minister and missionary in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean during the 1960s", according to John Etheridge. "He travelled extensively in the area and his three sons were each born on different islands. He is thought to have baptised baby Ambrose while in Antigua in 1963."
Rohan Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar's son Rohan, who also played one-day internationals for India, is named after the stylish West Indian batsman Rohan Kanhai, one of Sunil's favourite players and a team-mate on the World XI tour of Australia in 1971-72. Some reports claim that Gavaskar junior is actually named after three players, as his full name is supposedly Rohan Jaivishwa (the second being a portmanteau of two more of Sunil's favourites, ML Jaisimha and GR Viswanath, who is also Rohan's uncle). However, ESPNcricinfo solemnly informs us that Rohan's middle name is Sunil, after his father (a pretty fine player himself).
Sunil Gavaskar's son Rohan, who also played one-day internationals for India, is named after the stylish West Indian batsman Rohan Kanhai, one of Sunil's favourite players and a team-mate on the World XI tour of Australia in 1971-72. Some reports claim that Gavaskar junior is actually named after three players, as his full name is supposedly Rohan Jaivishwa (the second being a portmanteau of two more of Sunil's favourites, ML Jaisimha and GR Viswanath, who is also Rohan's uncle). However, ESPNcricinfo solemnly informs us that Rohan's middle name is Sunil, after his father (a pretty fine player himself).
Neil Fairbrother
Neil Harvey Fairbrother was named after his mother's favourite cricketer, the stylish Australian left-hander Neil Harvey. Fairbrother became a pretty useful left-hander himself, enjoying a long career for Lancashire and excelling in one-day internationals for England. He also won 10 Test caps - fewer than he probably deserved.
Neil Harvey Fairbrother was named after his mother's favourite cricketer, the stylish Australian left-hander Neil Harvey. Fairbrother became a pretty useful left-hander himself, enjoying a long career for Lancashire and excelling in one-day internationals for England. He also won 10 Test caps - fewer than he probably deserved.
Kenny Benjamin
The Antiguan fast bowler Benjamin had a lot to live up to: his middle names are Charlie Griffith, after the menacing Barbadian fast bowler of the 1960s. Charlie - most people's choice as the bowler they least enjoyed facing during their career - took 94 wickets in 28 Tests, many of them in a fabled new-ball partnership with Wes Hall (extending the theme, there's now a stand named after them at Kensington Oval). Kenny had very similar figures: 92 wickets in 26 Tests, at an average a run or two higher.
The Antiguan fast bowler Benjamin had a lot to live up to: his middle names are Charlie Griffith, after the menacing Barbadian fast bowler of the 1960s. Charlie - most people's choice as the bowler they least enjoyed facing during their career - took 94 wickets in 28 Tests, many of them in a fabled new-ball partnership with Wes Hall (extending the theme, there's now a stand named after them at Kensington Oval). Kenny had very similar figures: 92 wickets in 26 Tests, at an average a run or two higher.
Nick Compton
A slight cheat here, since they're related, but the Somerset and former Middlesex batsman Compton's third Christian name is Denis, after his famous grandfather, who won 79 Test caps. I'm not aware of any other cricketers named after Denis Compton - although, if the rumours are true, there ought to be a few more with his surname! John Arlott once spotted Compo walking down the street with another Middlesex player called Bill Knightley-Smith. "Aha," Arlott is supposed to have observed. "Knightley-Smith, and Twice-Nightly Compton."
A slight cheat here, since they're related, but the Somerset and former Middlesex batsman Compton's third Christian name is Denis, after his famous grandfather, who won 79 Test caps. I'm not aware of any other cricketers named after Denis Compton - although, if the rumours are true, there ought to be a few more with his surname! John Arlott once spotted Compo walking down the street with another Middlesex player called Bill Knightley-Smith. "Aha," Arlott is supposed to have observed. "Knightley-Smith, and Twice-Nightly Compton."
Alec and Eric Bedser
When Mr and Mrs Bedser of East London in South Africa produced twins in 1948, they probably thought it was an amusing wheeze to name them Alec and Eric, after the famous Surrey cricketing duo. Spookily, though, both became good cricketers themselves: Alec played some first-class matches for Border province, and Eric wasn't far off.
When Mr and Mrs Bedser of East London in South Africa produced twins in 1948, they probably thought it was an amusing wheeze to name them Alec and Eric, after the famous Surrey cricketing duo. Spookily, though, both became good cricketers themselves: Alec played some first-class matches for Border province, and Eric wasn't far off.
Nick Knight
The former England opener-turned-commentator has the middle name Verity, after a man who played 40 Tests (23 more than Nick) before being killed in the Second World War. In 2005, the Independent newspaper revealed: "Nick's father and his brother are also called Verity, because the great Yorkshire and England left-arm spin bowler Hedley Verity was a distant relation of the family on his father's side."
The former England opener-turned-commentator has the middle name Verity, after a man who played 40 Tests (23 more than Nick) before being killed in the Second World War. In 2005, the Independent newspaper revealed: "Nick's father and his brother are also called Verity, because the great Yorkshire and England left-arm spin bowler Hedley Verity was a distant relation of the family on his father's side."
Colin Croft
Another West Indian fast bowler with an impressive collection of forenames is Croft, whose middle ones are Everton (after the great West Indian batsman Everton Weekes) and Hunte, after the long-serving Windies opener Conrad. Everton Weekes himself was named after his father's favourite football club; when he heard this, the old England offspinner Jim Laker apparently observed, "It's a good thing he wasn't a West Bromwich Albion fan."
Another West Indian fast bowler with an impressive collection of forenames is Croft, whose middle ones are Everton (after the great West Indian batsman Everton Weekes) and Hunte, after the long-serving Windies opener Conrad. Everton Weekes himself was named after his father's favourite football club; when he heard this, the old England offspinner Jim Laker apparently observed, "It's a good thing he wasn't a West Bromwich Albion fan."
Barrington Rowland
Named after the great England batsman Ken Barrington by his father Lincoln, Barrington Marquis Rowland had a long career for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy, and was often said to be close to Indian selection. His 10 centuries included 283 against Madhya Pradesh in Bangalore in November 2004, and he made two other doubles as well - but that Indian call never did come, although his regular opening partner Robin Uthappa (with whom Barrington shared a stand of 324 in that MP game) did have a run in the national side. Rowland, who is still only 31, faded out of first-class cricket after an indifferent start to the 2007-08 season.
Named after the great England batsman Ken Barrington by his father Lincoln, Barrington Marquis Rowland had a long career for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy, and was often said to be close to Indian selection. His 10 centuries included 283 against Madhya Pradesh in Bangalore in November 2004, and he made two other doubles as well - but that Indian call never did come, although his regular opening partner Robin Uthappa (with whom Barrington shared a stand of 324 in that MP game) did have a run in the national side. Rowland, who is still only 31, faded out of first-class cricket after an indifferent start to the 2007-08 season.
Barrington Yearwood
The parents of this promising Barbadian allrounder covered several sporting bases when their son was born 24 years ago - they christened him Barrington Bjorn Beckenbauer Yearwood. So far the Barrington part is winning: he's played first-class cricket, and represented West Indies at the 2004 Under-19 World Cup.
The parents of this promising Barbadian allrounder covered several sporting bases when their son was born 24 years ago - they christened him Barrington Bjorn Beckenbauer Yearwood. So far the Barrington part is winning: he's played first-class cricket, and represented West Indies at the 2004 Under-19 World Cup.
Sachin Baby
On December 17, 1989, the day before 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar played his first one-day international, a family in the farming town of Thodupuzha in central Kerala celebrated the birth of a son. The father, PC Baby, spent part of the day giving thanks in church, then settled down to watch the cricket. "We never imagined how big Tendulkar was going to be. But there was something very impressive about him. I wanted my son to grow up to be like him," said father Baby - so the newborn was called Sachin. Fast-forward 20 years, and he made his first-class debut for Kerala against Andhra in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 32. A left-hander, unlike his namesake, he hasn't yet improved on that in three further matches - but there's plenty of time for the 21-year-old Baby.
On December 17, 1989, the day before 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar played his first one-day international, a family in the farming town of Thodupuzha in central Kerala celebrated the birth of a son. The father, PC Baby, spent part of the day giving thanks in church, then settled down to watch the cricket. "We never imagined how big Tendulkar was going to be. But there was something very impressive about him. I wanted my son to grow up to be like him," said father Baby - so the newborn was called Sachin. Fast-forward 20 years, and he made his first-class debut for Kerala against Andhra in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 32. A left-hander, unlike his namesake, he hasn't yet improved on that in three further matches - but there's plenty of time for the 21-year-old Baby.
Nixon McLean
And finally... our 12th man, Nixon Alexei McNamara McLean - the West Indian fast bowler who played 19 Tests - might not have been named after cricketers, but he was saddled with the names of an American president (Richard Nixon), a Russian prime minister (Alexei Kosygin) and an American defence secretary (Robert McNamara). And he has brothers called Reagan and Kissinger, plus a sister called Golda.
And finally... our 12th man, Nixon Alexei McNamara McLean - the West Indian fast bowler who played 19 Tests - might not have been named after cricketers, but he was saddled with the names of an American president (Richard Nixon), a Russian prime minister (Alexei Kosygin) and an American defence secretary (Robert McNamara). And he has brothers called Reagan and Kissinger, plus a sister called Golda.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011.