Injuries or brutality on the pitch are frequently linked to cricket. However, cricket players have also been affected by life’s harsh realities. On the pitch, several cricket players have passed away, but other players have suffered severe injuries.
Some people, like Phil Hughes and Raymond van Schoor, have lately lost their struggle with life, while others have persevered in the face of hardship. There have also been many courageous warriors in cricket history who, by sheer force of will, have overcome grave dangers and survived to tell the tale.
10 such cricket players who managed to survive are listed below:
1. Muttiah Muralitharan – Tsunami:
Many people lost their lives as a deadly tsunami struck the Indian subcontinent, especially in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Muttiah Muralitharan, a cricket player from Sri Lanka, came dangerously near to being swept away by the seas, while the Indian players were mainly unharmed by nature’s onslaught.
Galle, where even the cricket pitch washed away, was the most severely damaged region in Sri Lanka. Murali was fortunate to have avoided the seas because he was meant to be at a Galle charity event for children. As the seas started to rise, Muralitharan and his mother, brother, and fiancée were told to turn around and return to Colombo while they were travelling to Galle.
However, 50 kids who were taking a bus to the charity event are thought to have drowned after being swept into the sea.
2. Michael Clarke – Skin Cancer:
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke nearly survived a devastating cancer diagnosis in 2006. Skin cancer was also common in Australia, which was also discovered by Michael Clarke. It was discovered that two areas on Clarke’s face had malignant tissues in them. The Australian was then required to have the procedure.
Following the therapy, there were no more issues; nonetheless, the dog began to wear round hats to further protect his face and adopted the chopped hairstyle.
3. Dinesh Chandimal – Tsunami:
Batsman Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka is one of the survivors of the 2004 catastrophic tsunami that hit the country’s coasts. The family’s home, cricket kits, and other belongings were all taken by the massive tsunami that devastated the island nation in 2004. Chandimal’s family was abandoned in misery.
They celebrated the fact that it escaped without any casualties rather than moaning over what had happened. Chandimal was fortunate to make it through the terrifying incident and continue chasing his cricketing goals.
4. Andrew Flintoff – Drowning in the Caribbean:
Andrew Flintoff got wasted with a few of his teammates prior to a crucial match during the 2007 World Cup. The boat transporting them had capsized, and Flintoff, who was well-known for his wild drinking episodes, had almost drowned. He said he was trying to sail home in a pedalo in an 8 out of 10 cats episode from 2014. He said it was the worst location he had ever slept, waking up on a beach.
He was punished and lost his vice captaincy during the World Cup, but he was still on the team. The “Fredalo” incident is the name given to this incident later on.
5. Matthew Wade – Testicular Cancer:
Australian cricket player Matthew Wade, in contrast to the other players who have faced cancer, received a devastating cancer diagnosis prior to being professional.
He got struck in the groin during a football game when he was just 16 years old. Wade’s physicians discovered that he had testicular cancer as a result of that injury sustained on the pitch. Following a successful course of treatment, he made his Australian debut in 2011.
6. Geoffrey Boycott – Throat Cancer:
It played a sneaky trick on the former English player, who is more well-known for his sophisticated analysis, and caused him to go through a difficult time.
During India’s 2003 tour of England, he was given the diagnosis of throat cancer. For more than a year, the illness compelled him to give up his preferred work as a commentator. He had 35 radiation treatments throughout this period, at which point he was fully recovered. After a year, he returned to the commentary box and hasn’t left it since.
7. Jesse Ryder – Coma:
Following an incident outside of Aikman’s Bar in Christchurch in 2013, Ryder found himself in severe condition at Christchurch Hospital. Four guys were reportedly involved in the incident, which extended from the bar into the McDonald’s parking lot across the street.
He was placed in a coma by medical professionals due to a fractured skull and a collapsed lung. Subsequently, medical professionals declared that his skull was not broken. Within a month or so, Ryder was taken out of critical care and two guys were charged with assault.
8. Wasim Akram – Attacked by Gunman:
Following a traffic mishap in Karachi, a shooter opened fire on Wasim Akram’s car, but the legendary cricket star from Pakistan escaped unharmed, according to the player. One of the greatest left-arm fast bowlers in history, Akram was en route to serve as a coach at a training camp at the city’s National Stadium when the tragedy took place.
Akram cited, “A car hit mine, I stopped him, and then this guy stepped out and fired at my car.” But he had a near miss as the authorities quickly resolved the issue.
9. Yuvraj Singh – Lung Cancer:
Yuvraj Singh‘s cancer diagnosis was made public shortly after he emerged as India’s hero during the 2011 World Cup winning campaign. Yuvraj struggled with respiratory issues throughout of 2011; following the World Cup, in May, he pulled out of the West Indies ODI series because of the condition.
Prior to India’s triumphant journey through the 2011 World Cup, during which he finished as the player of the tournament, his problems started with breathing difficulties, nausea, and episodes of vomiting blood. His left lung was found to have a stage 1 cancerous tumour. He received chemotherapy treatment at the Cancer Research Institute in Boston, USA, and the Indiana University Melvin & Bren Simon Cancer Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana, where renowned oncologist Dr. Lawrence Einhorn provided care. The cricket player recovered from the illness and impressively rejoined the national team.
Also Read: Top 10 All Time Stylish Crickters
10. Sri Lankan Team – Terrorist attack:
2009 saw an attack on the Sri Lankan squad bus by 12 gunmen in the vicinity of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The cricketers were travelling to play the second test against Pakistan on the third day. The national cricket squad of Sri Lanka sustained six injuries. There were two civilians and six Pakistani policeman slain.
After the event, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera were admitted to the hospital. While others had shrapnel wounds and minor injuries. Paranavitana was injured in the chest, and Samaraweera received shrapnel wounds to his thigh. In the attack, reserve umpire Ahsan Raza, who was accompanying the Sri Lankan team bus in a van for the umpires, was shot twice.
11. Rishabh Pant – Road Accident
In an attempt to dodge a pothole while driving to Dehradun, India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was involved in an accident. He just made it, needing to be hauled out of his car before it took fire and caught fire.
Pant sustained two lacerations on his forehead, a torn ligament in his right knee, and injuries to his right wrist, ankle, and toe. The cricket player’s back was also injured by abrasions. MRI scans were performed to determine the extent of his injuries shortly after his accident, and he was transported to Max Hospital in Dehradun.
Subsequently, Rishabh Pant was moved to Mumbai, where it is believed that BCCI assumed responsibility for his ongoing medical care. Regarding his recuperation duration, there has been no news to date.
12. Nicholas Pooran
In his native Trinidad, the daring wicketkeeper-batter was involved in a deadly car accident back in January 2015. When the cricket player was trying to pass an automobile on his way home from a training session, something went wrong and the car ended up sliding onto a sand pile. His car collided with another vehicle when it lost its equilibrium.
Despite suffering numerous injuries, the cricket player quickly made a comeback to the field. These days, the left-hand hitter plays in franchise leagues all over the world and is an essential part of the Caribbean team. He was the West Indies’ captain as well, however he resigned when the team did poorly in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
India
