An Autobiographical XI: Test XI of cricketers who wrote autobiographies

Wicket-keeper & All-rounder

Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist: One of the finest human beings to have played the sport

M: 96 Inn: 137 Runs: 5570 Avg: 47.60 Best: 204* 50/100: 26/17

Perhaps one of the greatest wicket-keeper batsman to have ever played the game, Adam Gilchrist joins compatriots Hayden and Ponting in this XI. The Aussie pacers could keep firing balls at batsmen all day with the confidence of having them caught safely by Gilly if an edge was induced. His 379 catches behind the stumps are a testament to his efficient glove-work and it did not come as a surprise when he hung up his boots after having dropped an easy chance in a Test match.

His explosive batting was an additional advantage to his team as he possessed the unique ability of turning matches on their heads by scoring briskly.

‘True Colours: My life’, quite justifies it’s name, as it brings out the honest picture of the virtuous Gilchrist who was respected by fans across the world, not just for his batting and keeping exploits, but also for his demeanour on the playing field.

Andrew Flintoff

Freddie Flintoff was a crowd favourite throughout his career

M: 79 Inn: 130 Runs: 3845 Bat. Avg: 31.77 Best: 167 50/100: 26/5 Wickets: 226 Bowl. Avg: 32.78 5W: 3 BBI: 5/58

The only cricketer who could have easily pipped Flintoff for an all-rounder’s role is Jacques Kallis and since the South African has not written his autobiography, the tall Englishman makes this side without much competition.

A lower order swashbuckling batsman, a fast bowler who could bowl at any stage of an innings, a safe pair of bucket-like hands and most importantly a larger than life character on and off the field that he was, Freddie Flintoff had everything a captain could have dreamt of.

Years later, he might only come to mind only when people talk of the 2005 Ashes, but ‘Freddie Flintoff, My World’ is a piece of literature that gives a perfect insight to Andrew Flintoff and should be read by anyone who wishes to know what he meant and brought to English cricket.