As fans, we know a lot about the performances of the players on the field. The players had gone through a lot of struggles before making a name for themselves in the World of Cricket. Some of them used to work as a ticket collector, a policeman etc.
Here is a list of 10 famous cricketers and their professions before they made a name for themselves in the World of Cricket:
1) Mitchell Johnson
Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson was a truck driver before he became the nightmare of the best batsmen in the world. Johnson was a truck driver and used to transport plumbing materials. The left arm pacer was one of the most successful bowlers in the world. The southpaw has scalped 313 wickets in red ball format and has 239 wickets in ODI cricket.
2) Brad Hodge
The former Australian cricketer was a petrol pump employee before he made a name for himself in the World of cricket. Brad Hodge was one of the most underrated players. He made his debut at the age of 31 but still managed to become the highest run getter for Australia in all forms of T20 cricket. The right-handed batsmen has coached KXIP in the IPL.
3) Sheldon Cottrell
The left arm Windies bowler was a policeman who guarded the pitch at the Jamaica Cricket Ground before he was drafted in the CPL. He made his debut in international cricket in 2013. In the 2019 edition of the ICC ODI World Cup, Cottrell was the leading wicket taker for West Indies.
4) Shane Bond
The Kiwi fast bowler was a policeman before he debuted for New Zealand. Bond used to shake the batsmen by his pace. But his career was cut short due to regular injuries. Bond has picked up 142 wickets in 82 ODI games at an average of 20.88. He has participated in 18 tests in which he has scalped 87 wickets. In 20 T20Is he has picked up 25 wickets.
5) Ian Chappell
Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell was a baseball player before he entered the world of cricket. Chappell is regarded as one of the best captains in the history of the game. He used to play for Glenelg baseball club. The 78-year-old can be seen commentating nowadays.
6) Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon is the most successful off-spinner for Australia. Back in 2010, Lyon moved to Adelaide and worked as a pitch curator in the Adelaide Oval. Lyon has scalped 343 wickets in 86 games for Australia in the past years. He has picked up 29 wickets in 28 ODI games.
7) Yuzvendra Chahal
Team India’s leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was a chess player and has represented India in junior levels. The 31-year-old leggie has scalped 83 wickets in 48 ODI games. Chahal also has 46 wickets to his name in 31 T20I matches.
8) MS Dhoni
The Ranchi born cricketer was a ticket collector at the Kharagpur Railway Station before he took the World of cricket by storm. MS Dhoni is one of the best captains in the history of the game. He has led Team India to the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, 2011 ICC ODI World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Dhoni also has led CSK to 4 titles in 14 editions of the tournament.
9) Joe Dawes
Joe Dawes served as an undercover agent in Queensland Police for eight years. Dawes served as the bowling coach of team India. Dawes has played domestic cricket in Australia but he never made a debut in internationals. Dawes has 285 wickets to his name in 76 first class games.
10) AB De Villiers
ABD was the national U19 badminton champion and was shortlisted in the South African national hockey and soccer groups. He also got the Nelson Mandela award for his research in the field of science. Before taking the cricketing world by storm he was a rugby player, swimmer, a tennis player, etc.