Sporting life: Five cricketers who were also successful in other sports
Many International cricketers have a passion for other sports as well which drives them to play them regularly. Some of them have taken it to the next level by having a serious career in a sport other than cricket. Very few were blessed with talents in multiple sports leading them to play another sport before and after their professional cricketing careers. Some players have taken it to the next level by managing multiple sports simultaneously.
Here are five cricketers who are known for playing a sport outside cricket:
Andrew Flintoff – Boxing:
What a sportsman.! Andrew Flintoff, after cricket career, its boxing& he starts with a Win. Congrats Freddie.! #England pic.twitter.com/5fvOAyLZ
— Ishan Yadav Mahal (@BeingIshanCric) December 2, 2012
Andrew Flintoff, known for his aggressive instincts, took up boxing after his retirement from the game. The all-rounder featured in the heavyweight category and even played one game as a professional boxer. In November 2012, Flintoff made his professional boxing debut when he faced USA’s Richard Dawson and defeated him 1-0 across four rounds. Flintoff returned to cricket for a brief period in 2014 where he played the T20 Blast and also featured in the BBL 2014-15.
Aasif Karim – Tennis:
Aasif Karim, the left-arm spinner from Kenya is well known for his exploits in the 2003 World Cup hosted by Africa. In the game against Australia, he registered bowling figures of 8.2-6-7-3 which yielded him the player of the match award. Karim retired from cricket at the age of 40 at the end of the CWC 2003. However, in 1988 itself, Aasif had the chance to represent Kenya’s Tennis team in the Davis Cup. He featured in two singles and a doubles game against Egypt but ended up on the losing side in all the three.
Nathan Astle – Auto Racing
Nathan Astle was a silent performer for the New Zealand team between 1995 and 2007. Better known for his batting exploits in the limited-overs, Astle did a decent job with the ball as well. His career came to an end after joining the ICL after which he took up Auto racing in 2010. He featured at the Ruapuna Speedway in Christchurch where he drove a modified sprint car. Astle also made regular appearances for the football club Rangers A.F.C. in Christchurch.
Suzie Bates – Basketball:
#OnThisDay in 1987: A New Zealand double-international is born. Suzie Bates represented her country in basketball at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but has stuck with cricket after she was appointed New Zealand cricket captain in 2011. @SuzieWBates pic.twitter.com/K7MKBsNlVT
— Vtrakit Cricket (@Vtrakit) September 16, 2020
The star cricketer from New Zealand, Suzie Bates held a Basketball career in a good shape until she became the captain of White Ferns in 2011. Suzie Bates represented the New Zealand Women’s Basketball team even in the 2008 Summer Olympics hosted by Beijing. New Zealand Women finished 10th among the 12 teams as they won only one of the five games played. Bates made 12 assists across five matches at 2.4 per game which was the 10th best for any player in the tournament.
Denis Compton – Football:
Denis Compton had a solid Test career for England as he scored 5807 runs in 78 Test matches he played between 1947 and 1957 at an average of 50.06. Compton played professional football almost a decade before his Test debut. Compton represented Arsenal between 1936 and 1950 as a winger with a jersey No.11. He affected 15 goals across 54 appearances he made for the Arsenal team. Compton won the league title with them in 1948 and also FA Cup title in 1950.
