5 cricketers whose reputation was bigger than their teams

Walls are built in days, but it takes ages to build a fortress. Reputation in the sporting world is no different, often people misinterpret fame with this concept, which is entirely different. It takes one good knock or one moment to become famous, but to carry the reputation forward, it takes a lifetime of hard work and good results on the field.

The cricketing world witnessed many such iconic personalities over the decades and some current stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and David Warner are doing a fine job in building their own legacies. Their legends will keep inspiring coming generations to take up the game as a profession and hopefully, the cycle will continue.

But keeping some of these current figures aside, there have been some cricketers whose status was bigger than that of their teams. They ruled their respective nation’s cricket teams and influenced decision making significantly, regardless of them being the captains or not. Here are five such personalities whose reputation was way higher than their teams.

1. Sir Donald Bradman

Cricket’s most prolific and glorious chapter, Sir Donald Bradman was not just the phase of international cricket back in his days, but he is also rated as the greatest Australian to have ever lived. His accolades are also termed as one of the finest achievements ever by any individual in the sporting fraternity.

During a time when Australia was facing its worst recession in the 1930s and 1940s, many historians wrote about the impact of Sir Don’s outrageous batting exploits on the lives of a common man. He was perhaps the only source of joy for millions and without a doubt, he was way bigger than his team in those days.

A lot of Australians continued to hate English spinner Eric Hollies, who infamously dismissed the Master for a duck in his farewell Test, which deprived him of the iconic 100 average. It has been nearly 18 years since the demise, the whispers of his greatness continue to reverberate in the fraternity in some or the other corner.