Cricketers are always in the limelight for their on-the-field and off-the-field activities. Over the years, we have witnessed many cricketers who had ran into controversies for their off-field behaviors. Some have been victims of alcohol, which has led to debates.
We have also ready about instances of players playing while being drunk. Some of them have even, admitted and revealed such incidences, through interviews.
In this article, we take a look at five cricketers who were drunk on the field.
1. Herschelle Gibbs
Herschelle Gibbs was one of the most aggressive hard-hitting openers during his time. He has scored over 14 thousand international runs at an average of 37.30, including 35 centuries.
Gibb’s 175-run knock against Australia is considered one of his best knocks at the International level. In his autobiography “To the Point”, the former cricketer admitted that he had consumed alcohol hours before the game.
He also revealed that he was not aware of the situation, even when he went out to bat.
2. Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff is considered as one of the best all-rounders for England. He has scored 7315 runs and has taken 400 International wickets. The all-rounder during an interview on ITV of Speaking on tonight’s Jonathan Ross Show was asked if he had ever gone on to the field drunk.
Flintoff replied jokingly, “I think the question is, was I ever sober?”. Recalling his second Test century, he said, “I played a Test match against South Africa and we were getting beat… I was next in to bat the next morning so I had one in the bar… then we had two or three. It was Stella, the strong stuff, and the captain said, ‘Get to bed’.”
“He started to have a go at me. I said, ‘Look, mate, I’ll get you 100 tomorrow.’ I went out to bat, I was stinking but the pressure was on and I ended up getting my second 100 in Test cricket. There were so many times it didn’t come off,” he added.
3. Gary Sobers
Gary Sobers is regarded as the “Greatest all-rounder” to have ever played the game of cricket. His impeccable record reflects his greatness as a cricketer. He played 93 Test matches, scoring 8032 runs at a healthy average of 57.78, and has picked 235 wickets.
The legendary cricketer once revealed that during his unbeaten 150-runs knock at Lord’s, he was intoxicated. He started drinking early on the previous day of the Test match and the party carried on till half-past nine in the morning.
Gary Sobers then showered and put his pads on, as the legend had revealed.
4. Andrew Symonds
Andrew Symonds, the former Australian cricketer has scored 6887 runs for Australia and has taken 165 wickets at the International level for Australia. He was found to be drunk prior to Australia’s ODI match against Bangladesh in 2005.
The all-rounder also fell over in the training nets.
Speaking about the incident, Symonds once said, “Those warm-ups started with some gentle leg swings, but after four or five swings in the batting group, Symonds moved away from us and headed for the other set of players. He based himself on the edge of that group and leaned against a wheelie bin that was on the edge of the field. As he did so he fell over”
5. Wasim Raja
Wasim Raja was a talented left-handed batter for Pakistan. He has scored over 2800 runs in Test matches including four centuries.
During a Test match in Karachi, Wasim Raja was fielding on the boundary ropes. He got agitated by the crowd and threatened to unzip his trousers.
It was later informed by the press that Wasim Raja was drunk when he took the field. The left-hander slammed a century in the match.
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