Shortest cricketers to play the game so far

Who are the shortest cricketers of all time over the years? It is a general feeling that only people who are tall and massively built can play cricket. But the game has seen legends who were short to disprove the theory. In fact, they were very short. This slideshow lists a 11-member team with the shortest players from different eras of cricket.

#11 Sunil Gavaskar

Height: 5 ft 5 in

Sunil Gavaskar - one of India’s batting legends. He has faced the greatest bowling attack of all time – the West Indian pace quartet - without helmet. His average of 65.45 against the Caribbeans just tells us how sound his batting technique is. He has scored more runs than anyone else against West Indies in a single series (774 runs).

#10 Sachin Tendulkar

Height: 5 ft 5 in

Sachin Tendulkar - Is there a need to provide any further details about this most prolific batsman of all time? How will one forget the six over square leg which Tendulkar pulled off Andrew Caddick (6 ft 5 in – 1.95m) in the 2003 World Cup which went out of the park!.

#9 Tatenda Taibu

Height: 5 ft 5 in

Tatenda Taibu - The Zimbabwean wicketkeeper-batsman is the youngest Test Captain in the history of cricket. He decided to quit from international cricket at the age of 29.

#8 David Williams

Height: 5 ft 4 in

David Williams - Former West Indies Wicket-keeper is the next in our list of shortest cricketers. He has played 11 Tests and 36 ODIs for West Indies. He was appointed as the assistant coach of the West Indies T20 team for the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

#7 Alvin Kallicharran

Height: 5 ft 4 in

Alvin Kallicharran – Former West Indian all-rounder from Guyana. He played 66 Tests and 31 ODIs between 1972 and 1981. He was selected as the Wisden Cricketer for the year 1973. This left-handed batsman has scored his highest Test score of 187, against India. He was a part of the World cup winning sides in 1975 and 1979.

#6 Mominul Haque

Height: 5 ft 4 in

Mominul Haque – Bangladeshi cricketer, who plays for Sylhet Royals in the Bangladesh Premier League, has got 3 Test centuries under his belt. He had a dream run against Sri Lanka in his debut series scoring at an average of 52 in 2013.

#5 GR Viswanath

Height: 5 ft 3 in

Gundappa Viswanath - Brother-in-law of Sunil Gavaskar. Nick-named Vishy, he is well known for his square cut. He is an excellent slip fielder and has taken 63 catches in the 91 Tests he has played. He has scored 6080 runs with a top score of 222.

#4 Parthiv Patel

Height: 5 ft 3 in

Parthiv Patel - Baby-faced Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, he became the youngest wicket-keeper in Test history when he replaced Ajay Ratra in a tour to England in 2002. He has played for 5 different franchises in the Indian Premier League (Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers, Kochi Tuskers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore)

#3 Mushfiqur Rahim

Height: 5 ft 3 in

Mushfiqur Rahim –The current Bangladeshi Captain is the next in this list. He is the first batsman to score a double ton for Bangladesh in Test cricket.

#2 Tich Cornford

Height: 4 ft 11 in

Walter Cornford – Nicknamed as Tich due to his shorter height, this English batsman, who also kept wickets, has played just 4 Test matches, all in 1930. He has piled up 6554 runs in 496 First-class matches.

#1 Kruger van Wyk

Height: 4 ft 10 in

Kruger van Wyk - completes the list of shortest cricketers in history of cricket. He is the shortest cricketer ever. This Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman who was born in South Africa has played 9 Tests and 56 T20 matches so far. He has played professional cricket in South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland and Holland.