Cricket over the years has gone through many changes, and it has become bigger and better. The game started in a test format, then slowly shifted to limited overs first ODI and then T20s. WC Grace has been known as the architect of modern day cricket. He transformed cricket in the 19th century with his batting technique, sportsmanship, and influence over the game’s regulations.
The name Godfather came by combining two words, God and Father. A father is responsible for his kid, and every individual on Earth is God’s son. In cricket, a godfather is a player who not only gained personal achievements and success but also was the role model of many talented young cricketers and built a strong impression for them. They grew up idolising them and themselves became the best cricketers in world cricket. So as per our cricket analysis, we dive in to find out who is the godfather of cricket.
5. Sunil Gavaskar (India)
Sunil Manohar Gavaskar has been one of the finest batters for India. He changed the dynamics of batting with his sensational technique, rock-solid defense, and fearless approach against the fiercest bowlers of his era. Without a helmet, he faced the deadliest bowlers of the West Indies and dominated them.
The opener batter is the first Indian to score 10,000 runs in the traditional format of cricket. He surpassed Sir Donald Bradman’s century list in the longest format of the game and created a new record of 34 Test centuries which was later broken by Sachin Tendulkar. He can be termed as one of the Godfather of Cricket.
4. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies)
Sir Vivian Richards was known for his aggressive batting style, and dashing aura he maintained on and off the field. He was feared by most of the bowlers during his prime era. He was the crucial member of the West Indies side that won the Prudential World Cup (now ICC Men’s ODI World Cup) in 1975, 1979.
He had an average of 66.51 with the bat in the red ball format. He will remain the greatest batter for the Windies. He played for more than a decade and had numerous records under his belt. He remains the fastest Windies batter, scoring 5000 runs in the ODI format, and also the batter to score a fifty and pick 5 wickets in the same ODI game.
3. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies)
Sir Garfield Sobers has been regarded as the best West Indies cricket player of all time. He has been referred to as the best all-rounder of all time, with exceptional bowling skills. He could bowl medium pace, spin variations. That made him different from the other cricketers during his era.
Sobers is the first batter to create the record for hitting six-sixes in an over in a first class game. Later on many batters did the same, but he was the architect of creating the record. He also played football for Barbados, and his physical strength and tactical awareness made him an amazing footballer for the nation as well.
2. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is called the ‘God of Cricket’. He is the player with the most international runs and with a career over 24 years he has been the best cricketer in the world. Every other person from the 1990s era to the early 2000s started playing cricket and idolized him.
Many young Indian cricketers who are playing now and have been established cricketers have worshiped him as their idol. He was the player to score the first double hundred in the ODI format. Sachin is also the only cricketer to have 100 international centuries. He also holds the record for most runs in the traditional format of the game. Making him one of the greatest batters of all time. He can be termed as one of the Godfather of Cricket.
1. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia)
Sir Donald Bradman is the greatest Australian cricketer of all time. With an untouchable average of 99.94, he surely dominated test cricket during his era like no one else. It’s considered to be the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport. He can be regarded as the Godfather of Cricket.
The former Aussie skipper set the tone in test cricket, scoring 29 centuries in his cricketing career of just 59 matches. This showcased his amazing talent and the way he approached the game. He will surely be one of the greatest cricketers of all time.
