For Adam Hollioake, battle resumes in a different arena

Adam Hollioake will probably go down in history as someone who epitomized fighting quality. Having quit cricked in 2007, Hollioake has now emerged in new avtar as a cage fighter. Cage fighting revolves around a style which is based on certain boxing moves. Hollioake’s first love has always been boxing, putting on boxing gloves for the first time at the tender age of 12.

Born to a father with a cricketing background, Hollioake couldn’t resist making way into the gentleman’s game. He made his first class debut for Surrey in 1992-93 season. Two years later, in 1995, he emerged as a standout performer for Surrey amassing over 1000 runs combined with his 21 wickets. Based on such strong domestic performances, he made his England debut in an ODI against Pakistan in 96′. An year later, he debuted in longer version of the game against Australia. Though his test career failed to last for not more than 4 matches, his one day career was somewhat more promising with some valuable contributions. In the later half of 97′, much to his surprise, he was made the skipper of England. Under his leadership, England won the quadrangular series in Sharjah by beating West Indies in the final which was also England’s first tournament success in 10 years. But thereafter, dwindling form coupled with recurring injuries saw him losing his captaincy and later a place in the national side. He played his last ODI against India in 99′ world cup.

Hollioake went through a torrid time following the sad demise of his younger brother Ben, also an English cricketer, in a car accident in Perth, Australia in 2002. He bid adieu to all forms of cricket in 2004, having represented Surrey in 173 first class matches. That his brief return to T20 cricket for Essex in 2007 bears testimony to his indomitable spirit.

Now at 41, he has put on a new mantle of a cage fighter in the light heavyweight division. Cage fighting, better known as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is an amalgamation of boxing, wrestling, muay thai and other styles with both the striking and grappling techniques coming into play. Hollioake first MMA fight was in May 2012, which culminated in a majority draw. According to him, cage fighting exites him more than cricket. It requires one to be more physically fit and agile to survive the brunt and to top it all, one has to regularly flirt with the risk of losing life in cage fighting.

It is fair to say that Hollioake’s story thus far has been tumultuous, no less than a roller coaster ride. He has been down to the bottom, but then doing justice to his unshakable spirit, has always managed to edged his way up to emerge as a winner.