Writers at the wicket: 10 famous authors who played cricket

Wondehouse’s literary works have been heavily influenced by his love for cricket

Sir P.G. Wodehouse

Besides being among the most acclaimed humourists English literature ever had, Wodehouse was also a fanatic of the game. A reasonable player, Wodehouse spent two years in the playing XI for his college. His literature though was more significantly influenced by his love for the game.

Wodehouse’s most famous character, butler Reginald Jeeves, was named after Percy Jeeves, a Warwickshire bowler who was eventually killed in the WWI, never learning of his influence on the character. Several of Wodehouse’s best works are themed around cricket, collected in a book titled Wodehouse At The Wicket.

Wodehouse, with Doyle, opened the batting for the Authors XI until the club’s last game in 1912.

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A.A Milne

Author of Winnie-the-Pooh, Milne was a passionate cricketer, frequently representing the Author’s XI. He was once so moved by the game that he wrote an ode to his cricket bat.