10 cricketers you wouldn't think are still active

Almost every year, cricket sees a lot of players pulling down the curtains on their respective careers. Apart from the retired lot, there are also cricketers who just disappeared from the international scene without officially hanging their boots.Some of them stay in touch with the game through other means coaching, mentoring, administration or media involvement. On the other hand, there are quite a few others who prefer to keep playing the sport for as long as their bodies may allow.Among the players who continue playing, not all manage to stay in the spotlight and it comes as a bit of a surprise when you discover that they are still active.Here are 10 such cricketers:

#1 Marcus Trescothick (England)

Marcus Trescothick was a prolific opening batsman for England

CurrentTeam Somerset

With close to 6,000 Tests runs at a 40 plus average, Marcus Trescothick was definitely Englands best opening batsman prior to the arrival of stalwarts like Alastair Cook. Trescothickwas also among the most dangerous ODI batsmen of his time and more than 4,000 runs in the 50-over format.

Despite being forced to retire a little prematurely at the age of 33 due to stress-related issues, the former England southpaw continues to play for county side Somerset. Even at the age of 40, he is one of his teams best batsmen and ended up being the third highest run-scorer in the season which concluded this September.

#2 Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies)

Ramnaresh Sarwan is the skipper for Leicestershire

Current Team – Leicestershire

Ramnaresh Sarwan was one of the big names in West Indies cricket for most part of the early 2000s and scored nearly 6,000 runs for his country in both Tests and ODIs. However, since he had a fallout with the West Indies cricket board after losing his central contract, the only appearance he has made was in an ODI series against Australia in 2013.

But he has been a regular in English county cricket from the time he joined Leicestershire in 2012. Although he did not play for them this season due to treatment for a back injury, he is still part of the squad as one of the two captains.

#3 Paul Collingwood (England)

Paul Collingwood has had a great time at Durham

Current Team – Durham

Paul Collingwood has the distinction of being the only England skipper to lift a trophy equivalent to a World Cup, the 2010 World Twenty20. Collingwood did well for his country in a ll three formats and brought an end to his international career in 2011.

However, he continues to play county cricket as skipper of the Durham team and put up a good allround performance to help his team finish fourth in the LV= County Championship Division One. Although there were talks about Collingwood quitting after the 2015 season, he has decided to carry on for Durham in the next season too.

#4 Mohammad Kaif (India)

Kaif captained Andhra in the latest season of the Ranji Trophy

CurrentTeam: Chattisgarh

Mohammad Kaif had a pretty decent career for India, particularly in ODI cricket, and had quite a few memorable moments during his stint. However, he reached a stage when he went out of favour in the eyes of the selectors and has not found his way back to the Indian team since.

But Kaif remains to be pretty much active in the country's domestic circuit and has captained the Andhra team. After two years over there, the right-hander moved on and took over the leadership role with Chattisgarh in 2016.

#5 Jacques Rudolph (South Africa)

Jacques Rudolph has a double century for South Africa

Current Team – Glamorgan

South Africa’s former left-handed batsman Jacques Rudolph played 48 Tests for his country and scored more than 2,000 runs at a 35 plus average. This included a double century on debut against Bangladesh in 2003. Rudolph announced his retirement early this year in the wake of being away from international cricket for a long time.

At present, though, he plays for county side Glamorgan and is one of their overseas players. Rudolph was the highest run-scorer for his team in the 2015 season and will be playing in the next one too.

#6 James Hopes (Australia)

James Hopes represents Queensland in Australia’s domestic cricket

Current Team – Queensland

Allrounder James Hopes played limited overs cricket for Australia between the years 2005 and 2010 and had decent success. His job in the team warranted Hopes to contribute useful runs down the order and bowl a few overs of medium-pace and he did it quite effectively.

Currently, James Hopes can be seen as the captain of the Queensland side in Australia’s domestic cricket. In the ongoing season of the Sheffield Shield, Hopes has been the leading wicket-taker for his team and has also scored a few important lower order runs.

#7 Justin Kemp (South Africa)

The former South African allrounder currently plays domestic cricket in his country

CurrentTeam Cape Cobras

Justin Kemp had a 6-year long career for South Africa in which he primarily played ODI cricket. However, his alliance with the rebel Indian Cricket League resulted in an abrupt end to his international career.

He appeared briefly in the IPL and since then, he has been playing domestic cricket for Cape Cobras enjoying quite a decent amount of success. His last first-class game early this year for them saw Justin Kemp score 143 contributing toan innings victory for his team.

#8 Hamish Marshall (New Zealand)

Hamish Marshall had a short career for New Zealand

Current Team – Gloucestershire

The frizzy-haired New Zealand batsman, Hamish Marshall, represented his country in 66 ODIs and 13 Tests before refusing a national contract just after the 2007 World Cup. He also played for a year in the now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL), but that was after he stopped playing for New Zealand.

Marshall had joined English county cricket side Gloucestershire back in 2006 and is still a part of the team as vice-captain. He had a decent run in the latest county season scoring just under 600 runs at an average of above 36.

#9 Sean Ervine (Zimbabwe)

Sean Ervine is one of Hampshires popular players

CurrentTeam Hampshire

Former Zimbabwean allrounder Sean Ervine had a brief career for his country between the years 2001 and 2004. Although he played mainly in ODIs, he has also represented Zimbabwe in the longest format of the game. One of the highlights of his career was an ODI century against India in the 2004 VB Series.

Ervine headed to play for Hampshire in Englands county cricket after rebelling with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and has been an important member of their squad ever since. The next season will see the southpaw reach the200 first-class match milestone.

#10 Tino Best (West Indies)

Best is remembered most for a batting record

CurrentTeam Barbados

Fast bowler Tino Best did not have a very steady career for the West Indies and kept going in and out of the team. Perhaps his greatest memory was the record of the then highest score by a No. 11 batsman when he got 95 against England in 2012.

Best may not be in the international scheme of things for West Indies but continues to play domestic cricket for Barbados. His most recent first-class game was against Leeward Islands from 11 to 13 December this year.