Jimmy Anderson bowled over 40,000 balls in Test cricket over an international career encompassing 5 FIFA World Cups, 6 Harry Potter movies, 8 British Prime Ministers, 8 full-time England captains, 11 Taylor Swift albums, 20 ICC Men’s tournaments, formation of four independent nations, a worldwide recession, advent of generative AI, and a global pandemic. Sir Andrew Strauss debuted after him, retired before him, captained him, took slip catches for him, became the Director of England cricket, and stepped down between the ends of Anderson’s career.
Anderson has lived through the birth of T20 cricket and what feels like the death of Test cricket (joking, joking…or am I?).
Why I Will Always Remember Jimmy
I will always remember Jimmy Anderson because he made me fall in love with swing bowling.
I was just a six year old when I started following cricket – must have been around 2003-04. After the India-Australia Adelaide Test, I wanted to be a batter like Rahul Dravid. Just keep on defending balls and bat all day long.
By watching Anderson, I realized cricket was a lot more than just batting. In English conditions, he could really make the ball talk. When he bowled, cricket became a true battle between bat and ball, with ample swings & misses, the outside edges, and the oohs & aahs.
When I immigrated from India to the US, Jimmy Anderson was bowling. I finished elementary school. Jimmy Anderson? Still bowling. I graduated high school, college, graduate school, and now working. Anderson? Yep, still there.
Between Jimmy’s debut and retirement, we all grew up. I definitely did.
Let’s Talk About That Action, Shall We?
He had it all, in swing, out swing, late swing, reverse swing, wobble seam, a bit of pace, but most of all, the perfect swing bowling action.
Every cricket fan has copied Jimmy Anderson’s action at some point in their lives. The steady run up, slightly angling in, the swift movement of the shoulders, arms going behind the back, bit of a jump, the follow through, and then the celebration. It’s magic.
The Moments that Lifted Anderson from Good to Great
Anderson had several great moments and stories in his illustrious career. Magnificent deliveries to VVS Laxman, Brendon McCullum, and Michael Clarke to name a few, consistent performances against West Indies, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, the 7/43 vs New Zealand, Ashes victories, 2015 ODI WC debacle, and the Steyn vs Anderson debate. I picked a few other characteristics in his career that stood out to me.
– Bowling Partnership with Stuart Broad
1308 wickets among them. The top two highest wicket takers for fast bowlers. Anderson took 537 wickets when Broad was involved. Broad took 502 of his 604 with Anderson in it. When Broad had one of THOSE spells, Anderson kept it tight. When Anderson was on a roll, Broad kept it tight. A partnership to behold, a partnership for the ages that made England a fortress at home for a decade.
– 2014 & 2018 Battle vs Virat Kohli
Anderson was the highest wicket-taker of the 2014 Pataudi trophy with 25 wickets, a class apart.Kohli was caught behind by Anderson on 25 (34) in the2nd Test, and later was out on 39 (75), 0(2), and 7 (11)later.
In 2018, the battle continued but Virat Kohli had his redemption. Aside from couple of dropped catches, Kohli returned with scores of 149, 51, 97, 103, 46, 58, and 49with no dismissals from Anderson.
– The Ashes
117 wickets in the Ashes with 8 four-fers and 5 five-fers, Anderson left his mark in the Ashes.
– Anderson vs Mitchell Johnson
In this video, you see a different side of Anderson. At the peak of his powers, Mitchell Johnson sledges Anderson. In reply, Anderson takes a wicket the next ball and gives one back to Johnson!
– Success in Asia and India
His last two tours in India were remarkable. He took 8 wickets at 15.87 average in 2021and 10 wickets at 33.5 in 2024. In all, he took 92 wickets in Asia at 27.51. Not bad for one mocked as ‘Clouderson.’ He adapted and evolved with age.
Also fun fact, even though Anderson didn’t play an ODI match for about a decade, he is STILL the highest ODI wicket taker for England.
What Can We Learn From Jimmy Anderson?
Anderson’s longevity as a fast bowler will be marveled at for generations, but it was his swing bowling that set him apart. He developed this skill and kept refining it year after year until there was no match for him.
He utilized the English conditions like no other, kept himself fit for two decades, became a leader to the next generation, and was a great bloke all around. Rarely has someone come along who has single-handedly impacted England cricket, cricket as a whole, and the art form of fast bowling.
From the iPod 3rd generation to iPhone 15 Pro Max, from Beckham to Kane (Are the Euros coming home?); from the historic Volkswagen Beetle to self-driving Teslas, from Andrew Flintoff to Rocky Flintoff, and from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III, Anderson has seen it all.
Salute to you. There were never be another Jimmy Anderson.
Thank you for a special 20 years, I will cherish it forever.
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What were your favorite Jimmy Anderson moments?
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After all, he was fifteen days away from his 38th birthday. How long could he possibly bowl his bloody bouncers on flat pitches through the dead heat in the middle of Day 3?
Well probably till he was 82 or somethin’. Wagner could likely continue to bowl his heart out if his team needed him to till the very day he died.
Because that is what Wagner did.
What Made Wagner Special?
Did Wagner swing it like Southee? No.
Did he bend it like Boult? Nope.
Was he as fast as Shoaib? As scary as Murali? As consistent as McGrath?
No, No, and No.
So what made Wagner special? One word—Grit. Author Travis Bradberry’s quote can be applied to perfectly sum up Wagner’s character:
“Grit is that ‘extra something’ that separates the most successful people from the rest. It’s the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until they become reality.”
Surely he has grit. After all, he famously said, “Unless they carry me off a stretcher, I am going to try and do everything I can.”
You can’t help but love Neil Wagner. He is a fighter. He is a warrior.
Wagner could swing it just enough. He was ultra scary for short periods of time. He could crank up his speeds for a few spells in a Test. And boy, was he consistent with those short ball spells used to trap set batters.
The fact that he could combine these multiple skill sets together over long periods of time is what set him apart.
The Journey of a Thousand Miles
Although Wagner in his own words did not think of himself as the “most talent or most gifted bloke,” he was exactly the type of character that the team needed. One that would give it his all regardless of the conditions or the circumstances of the match.
Partially due to the quota system, Wagner never got his big break in South African cricket. So he decided to leave his home nation to find a better opportunity in England. Although he had a couple of decent seasons in the County circuit, this did not work out either. It was coach Mike Hesson who sought Wagner’s services in New Zealand.
It featured perhaps New Zealand’s best fast bowling unit—Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, and Kyle Jamieson.
Four versatile bowlers that played their own roles beautifully. Statistically speaking, Southee, Boult, and Wagner are definitely in the Top 5 of New Zealand’s all time bowling list (If you take Vettori out of the list, Hadlee-Southee-Boult-Wagner are clearly NZ’s Top 4 fast bowlers).
In Test cricket, Wagner is New Zealand’s
5th Highest Wicket-Taker (260)
5th Best Figures in an Innings (7/39 vs West Indies)
In an era of T20 dominance, Wagner ended up playing 205 first class matches, including 64 Tests. Although he played 116 List A matches and 86 domestic T20s, he never played a single limited over international.
Neil Wagner’s Greatest Moments
As a fast bowler, Neil Wagner was involved in multiple great battles.
Two characters that just never back down. Wagner kept bowling bouncers, Wade kept taking the blows and later pulled and hooked Wagner. And the leg slip setup to Steve Smith in that series was just wonderful to watch. A great diving caught and bowled later in the series as well.
Another memorable moment was the 1-run win against England in 2023. What an ending.
What Will I remember the Most?
The roar of a tiger. The expressions. The perfect team man.
His energy and the whole vibe. It felt like he simultaneously played for the fun of the game like like an innocent child but also played with the seriousness as if his life depended on it.
What did Neil Wagner teach me?
Wagner taught me to never back down in the face of adversity. Win or lose, but give it every ounce of energy you got. He taught me to tackle problems from different perspectives and keep innovating. He taught me to encourage others while learning from them at the same time.
And most importantly, he taught me to stay true to who you are.
Humility, character, determination. That’s what Neil Wagner was all about.
I will leave you with another quote, this time from the legendary basketball player, Larry Bird.
“I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.”
Larry Bird
Neil Wagner gave his 100% all the time, both on and off the field.
And at the end of the day, things did work out for him in the end.
Neil Wagner, Legend.
Neil Wagner Retirement Video
Do watch Neil Wagner’s emotional retirement press conference.
Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, and Neil Wagner, three of the stalwarts of NZ’s WTC Final victory have stepped off the international scene. The transition period is real. Only Southee, Boult, and Williamson left now. Let’s appreciate them while we can.
What do Aristotle, Socrates, René Descartes, Swami Vivekananda, Bertrand Russell, Immanuel Kant, Confucius, Dostoevsky, Jean-Jacques Rosseau, and Ravichandran Ashwin have in common?
These are the names of some of the greatest thinkers and philosophers of all time.
They didn’t just exist! They thought outside the box. Questioned the status quo. Changed the world.
And yes, you may have noticed that I subtly slipped in Ravichandran Ashwin’s name in there. Why, you may ask?
Because Ravichandran Ashwin is more than your average cricketer. He is different. He is also a thinker and has transformed into one of the most influential cricketers of this generation.
As Ashwin gets closer to his monumental 500th wicket, we look at 11 Moments which illustrates how Ravichandran Ashwin has changed the way YOU think about cricket.
Key Takeaways
Ashwin has taken 496 wickets at a bowling average of 23.79 and 51.4 strike rate. This includes 24 4-fers, 34 5-fers, and 8 10-wicket hauls in a match.
He has scored 3222 Test runs at 26.66 batting average. This includes 5 Test hundreds and 14 fifties.
His best figures are 7/59 (innings), 13/140 (match), and the highest score of 124.
Across formats, Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 724 international wickets and scored more than 4000 runs.
He is currently ranked at #2 for the Best All-Rounder in Men’s Test Cricket.
1. Desensitizing the Non-Strikers Run-Out
Let’s start with the elephant in the room—The non-strikers run-out or ‘Mankad’ as it was known in the pre-Ashwin era.
The most infamous moment was Ashwin vs Buttler. Watch the video below.
Ashwin’s involvement about the non-strikers run-out opened a conversation in cricket that was long overdue.
What do the laws of cricket say? Why does ‘Spirit of Cricket’ get selectively applied in this case? What can the bowlers do to gain advantage just like the batters when backing up?
There is still some way to go to desensitize the non-strikers run-out completely, but the bowlers are at least warning the batters more often (also a little bit of tension during the game is always fun).
2. Scoring Hundreds and Finishing Tense Chases in Test Cricket
These are significant scores. Ashwin has scored plenty of hundreds against the West Indies (both home & away) and also has had key contributions in South Africa, Australia, England, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. That is serious pedigree.
“I call him a scientist. He keeps discovering new things about himself. Be it bowling or batting. That is very nice for a cricketer. And that is why – the talent he has, he has maximized it over the years.”
My Favorite Ashwin Innings
My favorite Ashwin batting innings was the chase in the 2nd Test against Bangladesh in 2022. Chasing a target of 145, India had collapsed to 74/7 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz bamboozling the Indian batting.
Then came in the duo of Shreyas Iyer & Ravichandran Ashwin, constructing a counterattacking rearguard effort. By the end of it, Ashwin had scored the highest score in a fourth innings chase by a batter at #9 or below (42*) and stitched together the highest 8th wicket partnership in a successful fourth innings chase (71*) with Iyer.
3. Opening the Bowling in T20 Cricket Way Back in 2010
It was the 2010 IPL that brought Ashwin into the national contention.
Playing under captain MS Dhoni, Ashwin began opening the bowling and keeping things tight in the Powerplays.
Remember in those days, spinners opening the bowling was still a rare instance. Even Sunil Narine would debut a year later.
Ashwin ended up with the best economy (6.10) in the competition (for anyone bowling more than 6 overs in the whole IPL), CSK won the IPL for the first time, which started what would become a famed legacy, the Dhoni-Ashwin partnership began, and Ashwin (and India) was on his way to a glorious golden eighteen months.
4. Bowling that Final Ball with the Iconic Stop in the 2013 Champions Trophy Final
The golden age of Indian cricket in recent memory between 2007-2013 from the 2007 T20 World Cup to the 2013 Champions Trophy Final.
Oh yeah and there was the 2011 World Cup Final as well.
A six to win, four to tie. Wet conditions. Ashwin does a mini-pause, Tredwell starts to move, Ashwin spins the ball prodigiously.
A magnificent spell of 4-0-15-2 to drive India home in a famous victory.
5. Saving the Test at Sydney and Putting His Body on the Line
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. We are never forgetting this, are we?
Third Test Day 5. Series in the balance. Rahane departs early.
Rishabh Pant & Cheteshwar Pujara are full flow. Pant departs on 97, Hazlewood bowls a jaffa to Pujara, Vihari suffers a hamstring injury.
Surely Australia is cruising to victory here? Think again.
Ashwin & Vihari come together to put together one of the greatest rearguard actions in recent Test history.
Ashwin had already been suffering back pains. Now the fast bowlers were bowling bouncers and targeted his rib cage. He suffered but stayed in the game. By the end of the day, he was pulling short balls for four.
6. Inventing New Deliveries and Experimenting with Bowling Action
“Methods, madness, and courage” are characteristics that drive Ashwin. In his own words,
“There is a method to my madness. People ask, ‘What is he doing? Why is he trying so many different things. It is a matter of perception.”
Method in the Madness
One of the things that sets him apart is the ability to take risks and always try out something new.
He began his career as an off-spinner and when T20 cricket demanded, he opened the bowling.
As leg spinners gained prominence in the 2010s and Ashwin was dropped from the limited overs side in 2017, he knew he had to do something different.
He changed his action, experimented with delivery strides, added the carrom ball in his arsenal of weapons, and even developed the leg spinner.
Ashwin has received a new lease of life with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. It jumpstarted his comeback into the Indian T20I side, but more than that, it is the manner in which has gone about his cricket at RR which is heartening to see.
This provided specialist finishers, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, the extra few balls to finish off the innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin has become such a cult figure for out-of-the-box tactics that after Rohit Sharma retired himself during the double Super Over against Afghanistan, coach Rahul Dravid said, “Rohit retiring himself out was Ashwin-level thinking.”
9. Presence of Mind in the T20 World Cup Match Against Pakistan
Now let’s come to one of the most iconic moments in recent memory.
An India vs Pakistan match to cherish. In the 19th over, Virat Kohli played the shot heard around the world against Haris Rauf.
India were getting closer, but Hardik Pandya departed. A few balls later, Virat Kohli was on the non-strikers end.
Then came time for the finisher from the Nidahas trophy final, Dinesh Karthik. His comeback story and career revamp as a finisher had led to this one moment. But he was stumped when Nawaz bowled a wide one near outside his leg.
The Iconic Moment
Next ball, Ravichandran Ashwin is in. Nawaz attempts a similar delivery.
What does Ashwin do? HE LEAVES IT. I repeat, he leaves it! The audacity, brilliant! Wide ball called. Scores leveled.
Next ball, he just lifts the ball straight past the bowler for a four.
Calm, collected, champion. That is Ravi Ashwin for you.
The world is changing every day due to the internet and social media.
Cricket is also changing and players have to ensure they are planning for the future during their careers. We can already see the likes of Stuart Broad and Dinesh Karthik commentating before retirement. Others have put their hats into the coaching baskets.
Ashwin in his usual self, has done something slightly differently. He has started a YouTube channel! And not just any channel – the thoughtful interviews and Kutti stories have already garnered him 1.34 Million YouTube subscribers!
What is neat about this experience is the insights we are gaining from Ashwin about what happens inside the dressing room. The media is known for speculation and controversies, but Ashwin brings a more human, deeper side to the Indian cricket team. I hope more cricketers follow this path in the future.
Here is an interview series with Harsha Bhogle on India’s stories during ODI World Cups.
11. Never Backing Down
One characteristic I admire about Ravichandran Ashwin is his honesty and the ability to speak his mind regardless of the pressure.
We have already seen from a strategic point of view that he never backs down and keeps improving his skills.
Off the field as well, he doubles down on this personality trait. We can see from the press conference below (where he questions why journalists have a pre-determined view about Indian pitches) or the memorable sledge against Tim Paine that Ashwin will always be up for a fight.
12. From Engineering to Cricket
Not many athletes have dual careers at the beginning of their careers. Ashwin graduated with a BTech degree.
“My dad used to wake me up at 5:30…My mom wanted me to be an engineer. And I did it, because I actually struggled through it. I actually slogged my entire sweat out to actually do engineering and cricket. It used to be extremely hard. And extremely hard is an understatement.”
Along with family pressure, he also suffered a pelvis injury, which kept him out of cricket for a year in his peak high school years.
As a society, we judge and admire individuals after success has been achieved, but it is often the stories behind the scenes that helps us understand the true character of the individual.
13. Playing Cricket All Day Every Day
And finally, where there is cricket, there is Ashwin.
In modern-day cricket, there is barely any space for free time. There is always a World Cup, international cricket, or T20 leagues happening around the world.
But whenever Ashwin finds time, you can see him playing in the TNPL and other local matches.
Here is a hilarious clip of Ashwin reviewing a ball TWICE in the small ball because he was not satisfied with the discussion.
Classic Ashwin!
Final Thoughts – How Did Ravichandran Ashwin Change the Game of Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin pioneered the retired out, made non-strikers run-out cool again, finished clutch matches in Test cricket, opened the batting in T20 cricket, put the body on the line to fight for his country, bowled off spin, leg spin, carrom ball, won World Cup matches on his own, started a YouTube channel, and even took two reviews on the same ball!
Ravichandran Ashwin is not just a cricketer. He transcends human nature. A true genius, thinker, philosopher, and scientist.
I’m glad to have watched Ravichandran Ashwin’s career unfold.
If this is not a story we should all appreciate, I don’t know what is.
Related Content on Some of Cricket’s Most Wonderful Stories
What life lessons can we learn from Sachin Tendulkar on his 50th birthday? He represented hope, excellence, and discipline, and more for a billion people.
Longevity & consistency, breaking barriers, mentoring others, staying focused, and daring to dream—This is what Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami teaches me.
Bowl fast, score centuries. Check. Score GOAL in the FIFA World Cup, Write 5 Books? This has all been done. By a single person.
Her name is Ellyse Perry.
Lasith Malinga has hat-tricks for breakfast. He is just that special.
A true superstar—rockstar hair, left-eye piercing, and of course, the slinging action.
We look back at the illustrious careers of these dynamic duo, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, names synonymous with the 2011 World Cup and CSK winning teams.
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
– Quote Attributed to Abraham Lincoln
This quote perfectly epitomizes Stuart Broad.
Stuart Broad has made each of his 6182 days in international cricket count. Ultra-competitive, yet also super fun to be around.
When Stuart Broad appealed, we saw the joy in him. When Broad took a wicket, we saw the joy in him. And when Broad talks about cricket, we still see the joy in him.
The all-time great has hung up his boots. Today, we look back at the highs, lows, and everything in between.
Although fast bowling was his true calling, his beginning wasn’t always that.
He started his youth cricketing career as an opening batter (which is why he still valued technique till end). Rising up the ranks, we was called up in the England U-19 & England A sides during 2005-06. A certain Jimmy Anderson had made the senior side, so there was a vacancy in the A team.
By 2007, he had made England’s ODI & T20I World Cup teams. A couple of years later, he had announced himself on the big stage at the Ashes when his 5-fer reduced Australia from 73/0 to 111/7.
8/15 (2015) – Best spell by a pacer since Glenn McGrath’s 8/24 in 2004
33454 – 5th Most balls bowled in career
Most wickets in the Ashes by an Englishmen (151)
Joint Most wickets against a single batter (20) – David Warner
Two hat-tricks
Timeline
2004 – Debuted in County Cricket at Leicestershire
2006 – T20I debut, ODI debut, Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year
2007 – Test debut, Yuvraj Singh six sixes
2008 – Moved to Nottinghamshire, First Test 5–fer
2010 – T20 World Cup Winner, 169 vs Pakistan
2011 – Hat-trick against India, Kings XI Punjab IPL deal
2014 – Seelcted as captain of England’s T20 World Cup side
2015 – 8/15 spell against Australia
2016 – Hobart Hurricanes BBL deal, British honor – MBE
2023 – 600 Test wickets, Retirement
Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson: The Gift That Kept on Giving
Let’s be honest, England have not really been the most stable Test side in history.
That’s why the duo of Broad & Jimmy Anderson is so cherished by the English fans. They provided England with the stability they needed.
Amidst the 0-5 Ashes defeats, World Cup debacles, or Pietersen-Strauss drama, these two remained the only constants.
When Broad was out of form, Anderson swung it England’s way. When Anderson did not get the early breakthroughs, Broad produced one of those spells.
Although the talk of the decade was Steyn vs Anderson, Broad uncharacteristically went under the radar. But he didn’t mind. He actually flourished under Anderson’s wisdom and when his time came, he mentored the next generation of English bowlers.
A partnership that was bound to be. A partnership that kept on giving.
With his famous headband, he found a second wind. In 2022, he took 2/3 wickets in a team hat-trick (the second wicket was also due to him. His celebrappeal for LBW took de Grandhomme by surprise, after which he was run out).
He took almost 25% of his career wickets (151/602) in the Ashes, becoming the leading Ashes wicket-taker of-all time by an Englishmen. Therefore, it is no surprise that his greatest spell – 8/15 came against the Aussies as well.
4th Test at Nottingham in Ashes 2015, Australia sent into bat, and Broad did the rest. Every wicket due to pace and perfect line & length. He ended with figures of 9.3-5-15-8. Watch it here. One of the greatest modern day bowling spells.
From 2013 to 2023, if there is one batter that has been haunted by Stuart Broad, it has to be David Warner. The record across formats reads as follows:
63 innings, 556 runs scored in 934 balls, 68 fours, 3 sixes, and 20 wickets. That’s the joint 2nd of all-time only behind Ambrose-Mark Waugh (21).
When Warner had learned how to face Broad for a little while, Broad came around the wicket and became even more lethal.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—The Six Sixes.
Yuvraj Singh Six Sixes: Stuart Broad vs Yuvraj Singh
Amidst all the glory and the highs, there were some low points in his career too.
Yuvraj Singh, at his peak of his batting prowess, hit Broad out of the park the entire over. Yuvraj was angry at Flintoff, but Broad got the treatment.
The series had underlying murmurs of, “Is this Jimmy Anderson’s last Test series?” Or at least, if this will be his last Ashes.
There was no such news about Broad.
In fact, Broad was at his best. He developed an outswing to counter the threat of Smith-Labuschagne and became the leading wicket-taker for England in the process. Anderson, on the other hand, had an abysmal series with Woakes & Wood leading English revival.
I knew I wanted to leave the game loving cricketand lasting memories being a very enjoyable changing room, and I’ve got lots of friends. I’ve played a long time, and the body feels great. I could have carried on, but it’s just feels like the right time.
– Stuart Broad
His final day may well be on Jimmy Anderson’s 41st birthday. How the stars align.
Despite initially being remembered for being hit for six sixes against Yuvraj Singh, Broad constructed a career of greatness, consistency, and longevity. By the time he was done with the England T20I side, he not only was England’s highest wicket-taker, but also a T20 World Cup winner.
This is a quality of great personalities. They realize that everyday might not go as planned, but they continue to believe and march forward.
That’s exactly what Broad did. Marched forward for seventeen years. Improving till the very last series, where he developed an outswing during the offseason to help him get rid of Marnus Labuschagne & Steve Smith.
Broad’s retirement took me by surprise. I am a bit sad but realize that we will see him in the commentary box for years to come. I will always remember his smooth flying action, those spells & hat-tricks, and most importantly, the joy he got from playing cricket and winning the crucial moments. A true match-winner. So, what can we learn from Stuart Broad?
Keep learning, keep moving, mentor others, lift the group, and never back down. All that while having fun. That’s what Broad’s life and career teach me.
The Legacy
Nasser Hussain & Mike Atherton summed it up perfectly.
“An undeniably great cricketer….He’s the complete article. The fitness, the hunger, the competitiveness, the skill, and being very clever and bright.”
Broad was an expert at wearing various hats. The commentator & analyst. The viral tweeter. The all-rounder & swashbuckling batter. The celebrappeal. The great entertainer.
For over a decade, Stuart Broad was England cricket and England cricket was Stuart Broad. With Jimmy Anderson, he gave us memories to last a lifetime.
It has been real, Stuart Broad.
What an incredible journey. Brilliant, wonderful career. What a player. What a man.
Peace out and have a wonderful second innings.
Facts About Broad
Stuart Broad Height
6 ft 5 in
Stuart Broad Age
37 years
Stuart Broad Net Worth ($1 million)
$790,000 (Red ball Contract)
$17,600 (Test match fees)
In 2023, he played 8 Tests& in 2020, he played 9 Tests. With the contract and match-fees, he earned $900000+. With brand endorsements & sponsorship deals, his net worth is welll over millions of dollars.
Personal Life
Chris Broad (father)
Mollie King (Partner)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wickets has Stuart Broad taken?
Broad has taken 845 international wickets, 602 in Test cricket.
How tall is Stuart Broad?
Broad is 6 ft, 5 inches tall.
Who hit Broad for six sixes?
Yuvraj Singh hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Who is Stuart Broad’s father?
Chris Broad is Stuart Broad’s fagther.
What is Broad’s highest Test score?
169 is Broad’s highest test scores against Pakistan in 2010.
What lessons can we learn from Sachin Tendulkar’s life?
Today is a day of great reflection because today we celebrate the 50th birthday of the great Sachin Tendulkar.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, SRT, or the ‘God of Cricket’—regardless of how you referred to him, for most cricket fans between 1989 and 2013—the love of cricket coincided with the love of Sachin. He represented hope, excellence, and discipline for billions of people around the world.
Let’s reflect back on those 24 precious years and see what we can learn from Sachin Tendulkar’s life. Or at least here is what Sachin Tendulkar taught me.
7 Lessons We Can All Learn from Sachin Tendulkar’s Life
1. We Must Accept Finite Disappointment, but Never Lose Infinite Hope
Quote By: Martin Luther King Jr.
After Kapil Dev & his men lifted the 1983 Cricket World Cup trophy, playing cricket for India and lifting the World Cup became a dream for every schoolboy. Sachin was no different. Fast forward three years into his career, he was selected for the 1992 ODI World Cup.
First time, no luck. Then, 1996 semi-final happened. Sachin Tendulkar stumped. Eden Gardens stunned. India collapse—A common sight in the nineties. It was followed by 1999 hardships & disappointment, 2003 (Final – so close, yet so far), and last, but certainly not the least, the 2007 Cricket World Cup. India crashed out in the group stage. It seemed to be curtains on Sachin Tendulkar’s lifelong dream.
Life Lesson 1: Disappointments are a part and parcel of life. The important thing is to never lose sight of the hope, dream, or end goal you have deep down. If you persevere and keep at it, who knows, maybe one day that dream may come true.
Quote By: Late American basketball legend Kobe Bryant (and quote from his English teacher, Mr. Fisk) while accepting the ESPY ICON AWARD
This speech is so beautiful, it is worth writing it in full here.
“We are not on this stage just due to talent or ability. We are up here because of 4 AM. We are up here because of two-a-days. Or five-a-days. We are up here because we had a dream and let nothing stand in our way. If anything tried to bring us down, we used it to get stronger. We were never satisfied. Never finished. We’ll never be retired. My high school English Teacher, Mr. Fisk. He had this beautiful quote, ‘Rest at the end. Not in the Middle.’ And I took that to heart. I believe there is time to rest at the end, but the time is not now.”
– Kobe BryanT
Just like Kobe Bryant and other legendary sports stars around the world, Tendulkar had to work hard for it.
Sachin Tendulkar was definitely a gifted a cricketer, but that alone did not make him great. Sure, he had natural timing and great hand-eye coordination, but he still had to put in the hard yards. Hours and hours in the nets, days and days in the Bombay Maidans under the sun, honing his technique slowly but surely. One day at a time, he got better. And he just never stopped.
Life Lesson 2: What differentiates excellence from just adequate performance is the work ethic. To achieve greatness in any field, the end result is directly proportional to the amount of work you put in.
3. The Price of Anything is the Amount of Life You Exchange For It
Quote by: Henry David Thoreau, American philosopher and writer
From an outsider’s point of view, Sachin Tendulkar was a superstar and public figure. But this definitely came at a cost. Staying away from family for the better portion of two decades, always being under media pressure, recovering from career threatening injuries, and maintaining international level fitness would not have been easy.
Life Lesson 3: Sacrifice.Whether that is time, family, plans with friends, delicious food, sacrifice in some extent is necessary to progress to the next level.
4. Sometimes It is the People No One Can Imagine of who do the Things No One Can Imagine
Quote By: Alan Turing, Father of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
Who would have thought that a 5-foot four schoolboy from Mumbai become the first ODI double centurion, go on to score hundred 100s, and become the idol that would inspire a nation of a billion?And even after he debuted for India, not many could have imagined the scale at which Tendulkar was able to conquer the cricketing world. There have been many 16- & 17-year-old debutants in cricket, but none like Sachin.
Life Lesson 4: If you can put your mind to it and imagine the impossible, you can achieve the impossible. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you that cannot do something.
5. Only Those Who Will Risk Going Too Far Can Possibly Find Out How Far One Can Go
Quote By: T.S. Eliot, American Poet
Tendulkar did not stop until he reached the height of individual excellence. Sunil Gavaskar, the original ‘Little Master’ had set the bar with 10,000 Test runs and 34 Test centuries. How far would Sachin go? 35? 50? Once he got past, he did not stop. 34,347 runs across formats, scoring hundred 100s and 164 fifties, he finally hung up his boots. But by the time he was done, he had expanded the horizons of what batting excellence looks like.
Life Lesson 5: Beware of complacency. Take some risks. How far can you push the barriers in your profession?
Sachin Tendulkar had the weight of a nation’s expectations but never showed it. He always carried himself with grace and did not let the public know about the stress and mental pressure he must have been going through. That, my friends, is courage.
Life Lesson 6:It is more important how you carry yourself rather than what you achieve.
7. Without Continual Growth and Progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.
Quote By: Benjamin Franklin, American writer, thinker, politician, scientist, diplomat, printer, publisher, everything.
With such a long career, ups and downs are bound to occur.Teams figured out some of his weaknesses, injuries occurred, and so did prolonged loss of form. What mattered was that Sachin continued to reinvent himself and bring out a new version to overcome certain obstacles. Prime examples are the 241* in Sydney when he famously gave up the cover drive & the second wind in 2010 (at the age of 37, he dominated the South African bowling attack, scored double centuries, and looked fluent as ever).
Life Lesson 7: Keep the curiosity alive and continue to learn. You can only make substantial progress if you struggle initially, experiment with possible solutions, and ultimately overcome the challenges. Lather, rinse, and repeat.
Sacrifice, patience, longevity, work ethic, reinvention, curiosity, grace. The list goes on. We can learn so much from Sachin Tendulkar, a cool head on broad shoulders that taught a country how to excel, win, and most importantly, dream.
What life lesson has Sachin instilled in you? What has he meant to you?
Other Articles on Cricket, Philosophy, and Life Lessons
If you liked this article, be sure to check these articles below on Cricket Life Lessons:
By Nitesh Mathur, Broken Cricket Dreams, 04/01/2022
Actor Shreyas Talpade, from Iqbal fame, is back to portray this inspirational story of a man who realized his dream of playing cricket on the national stage at the age of 41.
Can Pravin Tambe’s unlikely journey capture the imagination of the public like other sports movies? Today we review this latest cricket movie released on Disney+Hotstar—Details, Summary, Verdict, and most importantly, Life Lessons We All Can Learn from Pravin Tambe. There is also a section of most popular Pravin Tambe videos, his playing career, and stats at the very end.
Kolkata Knight Riders just posted an emotional video on social media regarding a special screening of Kaun Pravin Tambe?, celebrating Pravin Tambe who is on KKR’s support staff in IPL 2022 (video of KKR’s special screening linked below).
Kaun Pravin Tambe Detail & Information
Title Name: Kaun Pravin Tambe? (Who is Pravin Tambe?)
Hotstar Summary:Relentless effort can make an underdog rise to the top, and cricketer Pravin Tambe’s extraordinary journey proves why age is just a number.
Language: Hindi (English subtitles available, also dubbed versions available in Telegu & Tamil)
Rating: 4.5/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Kaun Pravin Tambe Summary and Review
Kaun Pravin Tambe? begins with a clip of a Rahul Dravid, who is portraying Pravin Tambe as the embodiment of passion (full speech below). The movie then tries to answer the question for the audience, who is this Pravin Tambe that Dravid is talking about? Cricket fans have heard about with his exploits with the Rajasthan Royals between 2013 and 2015, but how did he start his career? Why did he have to wait for 20 years?
The film begins in the early 2010s, when Tambe is juggling his life as a construction supervisor, father, husband, and cricketer. After brief introduction of the Shreyas Talpade, the movie rewinds to Tambe’s childhood and develops chronologically. We see that at the age of 12, Tambe finds his life purpose—to play Ranji cricket for Mumbai. The essence of the plot is to fill the gap between ages 12 to 41.
The Stories
There are several mini-stories within the larger movie. Tambe begins his career as an all-rounder and specifically, a medium-pace allrounder. How does he then turn into this leg-spinner? (Don’t worry, will not spoil that for you here). Another plotline is the various jobs Tambe takes upon for the sake of financial stability, while still trying to give time to cricket. This is my favorite part of the movie.
Finally, the portrayal of the Mumbai grassroots cricket, Shivaji Park maidaans, and gully cricket is cherry on top of the cake. The actual cricket has the perfect screen time—not too much (like 83’s highlights reels), not too little, just right.
The Acting
What makes this a neat watch is Shreyas Talpade’s bowling action. I loved his bowling action in Iqbal and since Tambe started as a medium pacer, Talpade was a perfect fit. His acting is brilliant as usual, but the minor characters (older brother, childhood friend, wife Vaishali, Abey Kuruvilla, and Arif Zakaria as Jamil) are the heart of the film. Special mention to Ashish Vidyarthi, who does an excellent job portraying Vidyadhar Paradkar sir (influential coach for Zaheer Khan and other great Indian cricketers).
Finally, a note on Parambrata Chatterjee, who is a wonderful actor (you might know him as the police officer in Kahaani & Aranyak). However, his minor negative character as a journalist did not suit him or the script well.
Verdict: To Watch or Not to Watch?
At this moment, there is loads of cricket going on—2022 Women’s World Cup, IPL 2022, Australia Vs Pakistan ODIs, Bangladesh Vs South Africa Tests, Netherlands Vs New Zealand limited overs series, and the 2022 County Championship will begin in a week as well.
On top of this, I am sure you are busy with work, family, or school.
But if you can make time for two hours in this busy world, I hope you can set everything aside and give Kaun Pravin Tambe? a sincere watch. Good, light-hearted movie that will rejuvenate your belief in cricket, specifically grassroot & gully cricket.
My review for Kaun Pravin Tambe? is 4.5/5. Great watch. The only thing that took away from the film for me was the minor conflict with the journalist, which seemed a bit forced.
Before we move on to “Life Lessons we can learn from Pravin Tambe”, check out BCD’s social media pages and consider subscribing to our newsletter. It would really help support this website.
Pravin Tambe symbolizes Broken Cricket Dreams. His journey has broken dreams, but his story is also full of inspiration, passion, hard work, modesty, and determination.
Tambe is one of the great stories of the IPL. Got his big break before playing a Ranji Trophy match. And guess what? After all his toil, results were evident – hat-trick vs KKR, highest wicket taker for Rajasthan Royals in 2014, and the Golden Wicket taker for RR in 2012 Champions League.
And he played till he was 49 across IPL, CPL, Abu Dhabi T10 leagues. I am sure he still plays a few gully cricket games here and there. Dedication to the max. Here are some of the other life lessons from Pravin Tambe we can apply to our lives.
1. Age Is Just a Number
After almost 30 years of toil, Tambe finally got selected for the Rajasthan Royals in 2013. A few months later, he would get his beloved Ranji Trophy cap.
In this day and age of the internet and focus on fitness, anything is possible. Tom Brady, Pravin Tambe, Brad Hogg, and Chris Gayle can still play professional sports at 42. With resources online, you can obtain a new skill, learn new things, change careers, or start a business. At any point in your life, age is no barrier.
2. Balancing Dreams with Practicality of Life
As Tambe entered his twenties, he assumed more responsibilities. He got married, had two kids, and had to pay bills. Usually, people give up dreams during this time for financial security.
Pravin Tambe did not. He worked multiple jobs instead.
Life is all about moderation and balance. And to survive, money is needed. If you can develop multiple streams of income, while still being within reach of your dream goal, that is the ideal zone.
3. Be Open-Minded
Pravin Tambe reluctantly switched from medium pace bowling to leg spin. And boy, did it pay dividends.
There is a fine line between persistence and inflexibility. Quitting should always be your last option, but if things are not working in your favor, be open to change. Being open minded in the micro can have large positive effects on the macro.
4. Passion Makes Perfect
Dravid’s speech illuminates on Pravin Tambe’s work ethic. Although he did not play much the first year, he attended every optional practice session, every gym session, and was always discussing how to improve his game with other players in the squad.
After his first man of the match award in the IPL, “he was weeping.” He cherished every moment of this journey. Although he has now assumed coaching roles, he still plays for his company (Kanga League, Time Shield) and still bowls 15-20 overs a day in three-day-games.
We usually say ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ That is true, but what is more is that ‘Passion Makes Perfect.’ If you combine your love or passion for a certain activity and put in the practice and the hard yards, then you will be happy with all your effortsand gradually get closer to your dream.
5. All You Need Is One Good Over. Never Give Up. Dreams Really Do Come True
Themain theme of Kaun Pravin Tambe can be summed up by one quote in the movie.
“Whether it is life or match, all you need is one good over.”
Pravin Tambe was in the 40 Probable’s List for a number of seasons, even as early as 2000.
But he had to wait. And Wait. Almost gave up. And had doubts cast upon from friends and society, but he kept on working relentlessly and kept on dreaming a dream till he got his big break that changed his life.
In Tambe’s own words, “Just never give up on your dreams. Really dreams do come true.”
Try, Try, and Try Again Until You Succeed.You may take rest but never quit. The light at the end of the tunnel may be bleak, but there is light, nevertheless.
Here are some of my favorite Pravin Tambe videos. In his interview with Aakash Chopra, Tambe reveals that his IPL cap was not his biggest moment. Getting the Ranji cap for Mumbai from legend Wasim Jaffer was his most memorable moment.
Here below is one of his best innings of his career. So much spin! Beautiful.
Here is Tambe’s hat-trick and 5-wicket hall in a T10 match that featured wickets of Chris Gayle, Eoin Morgan, and Kieron Pollard (Bowled!), Upul Tharanga – as a 47-year old. Wow!
