10 Cricketers who overcame physical barriers

The worst thing that can happen to someone is losing the thing that helps her/him earn the bread. The thing about passion is that it does not always bring one an influx of greens and, at the end of the day, it is the only thing that can help in one’s quest for survival.For sportspersons, the greatest fear is becoming physically disabled. The hand that feeds them becoming the source of excruciating pain, both mentally and physically, is perhaps the last thing they want.Another thing with sportspersons is that they don’t play only to earn money, they do it because they love it. It is one of the fewest professions where almost every professional completely enjoys their work.However, not all of them are lucky enough to play with no physical disability or illness as there are some cases where cricketers have had to overcome such barriers and make a name for themselves. And here are such instances…

#1 Len Hutton

Len Hutton continued to fascinate English cricket fans even after he was left with a shortened arm

He is widely regarded as one of the best English batsmen to have ever played the game. In fact, some quarters of the England fans believe that he was the most technically sound batsman the United Kingdom has ever had since the Second World War.

However, an unfortunate accident in the gym, while doing commando training during World War II, damaged his arm so badly that he needed an operation and it was 8 months in the hospital before he was discharged.

The result of this terrible event was a shortened left arm, by 2 inches, and this happened just after he broke the then world record of the highest individual score in Tests by scoring 364 runs against Australia at the Oval.

But like all the greats do, his incredible determination and unparalleled mental strength meant that he didn’t give up and worked really hard to resurge his career. He later went on to score 14 more Test centuries and also became the first ever professional captain of the England team.

#2 Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

The Nawab of Pataudi played cricket with an impaired vision

One of the greatest batsmen India ever produced, he is another classic case of what could have been had fate not intervened. The Nawab of Pataudi Jr. has legendary tales related as he was said to tame the fiercest English county bowlers during his time as a player for the Oxford University.

But then, bad luck interfered as he was involved in a gruesome car accident that left his vision impaired. He could only see through his left eye and according to him, there was once a time he could see two balls and “tried to hit the inside one.”

In the end, though, he made some adjustments to his stance and covered his right eye and went on to play for India. In fact, he was good as he scored a double hundred in Tests, but how he turned out after that accident is a far cry from what he could have been.

#3 Eiulf Nupen

Nupen was a vital asset for South Africa on matted pitches (Image courtesy: ESPNCricinfo)

He might not be among the most popular players that we find on this list, however, he was perhaps the greatest bowler on matted pitches. A very ordinary bowler on every other kind of pitches, he absolutely shredded the opposition attacks on matting tracks and it for this reason that South Africa only ever used him on such tracks.

Despite being an average bowler under normal circumstances, he is a man who deserves credit as he made a great first-class career as a fast bowler with just one eye. At the age of 4, he lost the sight of an eye and could only see through one.

His Scandinavian ancestry and impaired vision earned him the nickname of one-eyed Norwegian, someone who is remembered fondly as a legendary bowler on mats.

#4 Bob Appleyard

Bob Appleyard (L) had a remarkable first-class record despite his illness

With only 9 Tests under his name, he might be the most inexperienced among his peers here, but his story is remarkable—and kind of sad—enough for him to be on this list.

Many English fans include him in their all-time England XI and there is a reason for that. He started off as a fantastic prospect who took 200 first-class wickets in 1951 itself, but fell prey to a darning diagnosis, tuberculosis.

At the time, it was a fatal disease and not many expected him to recover to play cricket again. But not only did he recover, he went on to play for England in 9 Tests and took 31 wickets in the process with a stunning average of 17.87.

What makes his tale sad is the fact that his potential would have taken him much further and his first-class stats works a testament to that: an unreal 708 wickets in 152 FC games and a ridiculous average of 15.48.

#5 Bert Ironmonger

Bert Ironmonger continued bowling well even after he lost a part of a finger on his bowling hand

If you are a slow left-arm bowler, the most important portion of your left arm is the index finger since it is the one that is used to grip the ball and get something off the track. So if you are a slow left-arm bowler without the top of your forefinger, then your career is as good as over.

Or is it? Not for Bert Ironmonger, no.

Due to an unfortunate accident in the family, Ironmonger lost the top of his forefinger, but that didn’t stop him from playing cricket as his willpower was as strong as an iron. He used this disability to his advantage as he could generate commendable spin with what remained of his finger. He played till he was in his mid-50s and went on to have a successful career.

#6 Tony Greig

More remembered for his exciting commentary style, Tony Greig weaved a successful career in spite of having seizure attacks

The kids of our generation know him more for his voice in the commentary box while our fathers remember him for his astute all-round skill as a cricketer. He forged a great career both with the bat and the ball and then gave us some superb entertainment with his verbal wars with Navjot Singh Sidhu.

But behind all this was a terrible pain that he bore with great resolution and became the figure that is so adored all over the cricket fraternity.

Greig suffered from epilepsy, but never revealed and it wasn’t until Henry Biofield made the claim in a book about the Packer affair that this was first shed to light. Greig decided to confirm this via his autobiography, by claiming that he indeed suffered from seizure attacks when he was younger, but was able to control it with medication once he could figure out the signs of an imminent attack.

#7 Jonty Rhodes

Jonty Rhodes was arguably the best ever fielder to have graced the game

When people talk about the greatest fielders in the game of cricket, the first name that unanimously pops out is that of Jonty Rhodes. The retired South African cricketer was an electrifying fielder who never let the ball slip out of his care.

The way he jumped around the field made one wonder whether he was actually human. In fact, it was this ability that actually inspired kids to take fielding seriously and raised the general standard of fielding in the game.

However, he was also another victim of the vicious condition of epilepsy. Although, according to him, it was a minor form of epilepsy and hence didn’t threaten his career, he didn’t hide his condition and is one of the leading figures to inspire people to deal with this condition.

#8 Bhagwath Chandrashekhar

Bhagwath Chandrashekhar used to bowlwith a polio-infected arm

Winning a series in England back in the 70s was somewhat of a miracle task for any team other than Australia. Even the Aussies found it hard to get the better of their eternal rivals in England. So when India won their first ever series in England in 1971, it astonished the world.

And Bhagwath Chandrashekhar was one of the biggest reasons for India’s triumph.

He bowled a tremendous spell at The Oval to take 6 wickets for just 38 runs and bundled England to a puny score of 101. But the most intriguing part was the fact that his bowling arm was polio-stricken. This weak and thin arm was never strong enough to make a long thrown from the outfield but weaved magic within the 22 yards.

His deformed arm was his boon in disguise as he could bowl with great variations and confuse the batsmen to no ends.

#9 Shoaib Akthar

Shoaib Akhtar was one of the most dangerous bowlers to face for any batsman

When he ran in at full speed, it intimidated even the greatest of batsmen. His bowling speed was even fiercer and terrorised many batsmen for a long time. However, his career was all marred with injuries, but the fact that he could forge one out was a miracle in itself.

Hyperextension in all of his joints, which swelled his knee up with fluid every time he played and he had to drain it out at regular intervals, coupled with the fact that he was flat-footed and couldn’t walk as a kid makes it one hell of an inspiring story for each of us.

And despite all this, to this day, he remains the bowler to clock the highest speed in cricket.

#10 Mashrafe Mortaza

Mashrafe Mortaza wears a knee support in every game he plays

The fortunes of Bangladesh have turned for the better in the year of 2015 as they are yet to be beaten in an ODI series and are likely to remain unbeaten given that they don’t have any series scheduled before 2016.

And the man who has led them to new fortunes is Mashrafe Mortaza.

His bravery in captaincy and non-reluctance in taking bold decisions has seen Bangladesh rise steadily. In fact, his team in BPL, Comilla Victorians, are just one game away from winning the title. But this is a man playing on borrowed time.

In every game, he has to wear knee support and after every game, he spends a lot of time in excruciating pain as fluid is drained out of his knees. If doctors are to be believed, then Mashrafe, if he continues playing, might as well end up in a wheelchair by the time he reaches the 40s without being able to walk again.

Yet, he is here and the Bangladeshi fans can only hope.