10 non-cricket personalities playing the sport

Some are world leaders, some are actors, and some are fellow sportspersons. They command, they captivate and they motivate but seldom can you find them breaking out of their busy schedule and enjoying the Gentleman’s Game.Cricket may be played only in a handful of countries, but it does enjoy a healthy global presence. And every now and then, we get a peek at eminent personalities trying their hand at the game. One can only marvel at the romance that this game has managed to brew in the hearts of these personalities. We bring you a list of celebrities who you could have never imagined being associated in a cricketing context.

#1 Geroge Bush

Surprise? An American playing cricket!

Former US President George W. Bush took time out from his day-long tour of Pakistan in 2006 to play cricket. A massive fan of baseball, he was taught the basics of batting and bowling by local Pakistani players.

After facing two deliveries and getting hit on the shoulder by a tennis ball, this is what the then US President had to say: "I don't quite have the skills yet."

#2 David Cameron

Like most traditional Englishmen, David Cameron is an ardent cricket fan. So much so, that the British Prime Minister took time out of his busy schedule to smash a few deliveries on his 2013 Sri Lankan visit. A keen Cameron was seen slam his willow in front of the Lankan boys.

#3 Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton

Wait. Are we at Hogwarts? Is Gryffindor playing Slytherin at the Oval then?

Harry Potter movie franchise stars Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) were seen as guest commentators during the lunch break of the Australian 2nd Innings on the fourth day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at the Brit Oval in London on August 23, 2009. Both are very keen supporters of the England cricket team.

#4 Hugh Jackman

So the Wolverine does enjoy his cricket too!

The X-Men superstar Hugh Jackman has a special love for the game. He is close friends with many Australian cricket stars. Shane Warne joined him in a special programmed where Jackman explained his fascination for the game. He used to watch every Test match he could possibly watch as a child has a decent batting technique.

#5 Omar Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister loves his cricket and likes to showcase his talent at every opportunity he gets.

In 2013, he was stuck in bad weather in Srinagar and had to cancel his appointments. And what did he do next? He enjoyed a game of cricket with the locals. He does have a good sense of humour too about the game as can be seen by this tweet

#6 Williams Sisters

Rest assured that a tennis racket is their preferred choice, but it didn’t prevent Serena and Venus Williams from exploring other options. Being true sportspersons, they try their hands at other sports as well.

They can be seen learning the tricks of the trade from the flamboyant Aussie opener Aaron Finch here.

#7 Russell Crowe

We know for a fact that Russell Crowe has made many appearances as a keen follower of Test cricket during the Ashes over the years, but he is not the one to let it go without playing the sport himself.

Here’s a funny incident. On the eve of his marriage with Daniele Spencer he staged a pre-wedding cricket match between Spencer XI and Crowe XI. Shane Warne played for Spencer’s side while Jeff Crowe played for Crowe XI.

Crowe impressed by taking three wickets more than Warne, with bowling figures of 4 for 11

#8 Roger Federer

Roger Federer is the perfect player both on and off the tennis court. Always humble, the tennis star is always ready to work for a noble cause. The former world number one tennis player and UNICEF Ambassador played a game of cricket with tsunami-affected children in Kinnur Pudupettai and brought smiles to faces.

#9 Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were seen practising their cricket skills during a 2015 Cricket World Cup promotion event at Latimer Square on April 14, 2014 in Christchurch, New Zealand. As the crowd joined in on the action and supported them, the two added the “royal” stamp to the Gentleman’s game.

#10 Amitabh Bachchan

Last, but surely not the least, we have Bollywood’s own Amitabh Bachchan. Arguably the greatest actor in the Hindi film industry, this stalwart has taken part in numerous charity matches and has maintained good releationships with many former and current cricketers. He recently commentated on the India-Pakistan World Cup 2015 clash and did a good job of it.

We can see him playing cricket on the sets of Indian classic “Sholay” in the picture above.

With the wicket keeper more keen to report the proceedings of the match I'll sneak a few byes :-) pic.twitter.com/c8ibaC17ku

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) August 17, 2013