Which Cricketers Could Hack it in the NFL?
It may sound surprising to say, but American football and the gentleman’s game of cricket does have a few transferable skills.
Never has this been more evident than in the shortest format of Cricket – twenty overs a side – in which fast scoring, explosive power and strategic bowling is key.
The captain of a cricket team is also much like the quarter-back of an NFL side having to determine where to set his fielders up in relation to the move he wants to execute next depending on where his team is on the yard lines or incoming bowler in the example of cricket.
Much like, the NFL, cricketing action is a sight to behold with the live cricket 10CRIC betting markets offering a wide range of ways to enjoy the sport much like the in-depth markets involved in American Football.
So, with the similarities set, we look at three cricketers – past and present – who we think could make the grade in the NFL.
Chris Gayle
The man known as Universe Boss, Gayle-Force, and Gayle-Storm more than has the ego and natural athleticism to handle the pressures of the NFL.
Gayle is a West Indian all-rounder and something of an enigma in the game of cricket for his boundary hitting ability whilst making it look oh so easy.
The 39-year-old has been the poster boy for West Indian cricket for some time now and no matter where he plays, he draws a crowd for his exciting big hitting play and carefree attitude.
He has been criticized at times for being a little lazy at times (which would not go down well in the NFL) but one of the most powerful men ever to pick up a cricket bat would certainly make a useful team mate but perhaps on the offensive side of the team.
Chris Tremlett
Another cricketer who is a prime candidate to make it onto any offensive line-up is former England bowler Chris Tremlett.
Although the 6ft 7inch giant never quite set international cricket alight, he was for a time an England regular and talented right-arm fast to medium bowler capable of chucking the ball remarkably fast and hard.
However, the reason Tremlett makes our list is that now, at 37 years of age, he has taken up body building and is something of a man mountain (go on type his name into Google).
During his time with England, he earned the nickname biggie smalls for his love of wearing extra-small T-shirts despite his size even then.
Ricky Ponting
The former Australian Test and One Day International captain may sound like a strange choice from the outset as he is not the biggest or fastest, but when it came to leading a team packed full of stars to success, there have been few better.
Now 44, Ponting, is a veteran of over 168 Test matches for Australia (the ultimate form of tactical cricket) and led some of the greatest players the game has seen in the likes of Shane Warne and Glen McGrath.
Perhaps not an on-field starter, Ponting would be a shrewd choice on the side-lines working out the plays and grinding down the opposition.
