Cricket is purely a skill-based game. One of the best parts about any sport is that without talent and hard work, it’s almost impossible to succeed. The sons of former cricketers are under pressure in the game. While they must first tackle the constant comparisons, sometimes they should also put an effort to carve their own identity.
We have seen plenty of examples where the sons have not managed to reach the levels of their legendary fathers. However, there are a couple of instances where the second generation of cricketers from a family have done well. In this article, we take a look at a strong XI of sons of former cricketers.
Openers: Shaun Marsh and Mudassar Nazar
The Marsh brothers have been one of the best performing sons of former cricketers. Geoff Marsh has won multiple games for Australia, including a World Cup. Shaun Marsh has spent plenty of time in the Aussie team. At his peak, he was part of the Test team’s top-order. The southpaw has also found success in the IPL.
Mudassar Nazar is the son of Nazar Mohammad, who played five Tests for Pakistan. Mudassar did better than his father and ended his career as one of the best Pakistani openers in the five-day format.
Middle-Order: Mohinder Amarnath, Jonny Bairstow (WK), and Yuvraj Singh
Mohinder Amarnath and Yuvraj Singh happen to be one of the best sons of former cricketers from a cricketing point of view. Son of the legendary Lala Amarnath, Mohinder was a crucial part of the Indian Team in the 80s. He was the M.O.M in the final of the 1983 WC which India won. On the other hand, Yuvi is a modern great and also had a big role to play in India winning the 2011 World Cup.
Not many know but Jonny Bairstow’s father was also a cricketer and played for England, as well. Incidentally, Jonny’s father David was also a wicket-keeper. David Bairstow played football for his hometown club, too.
All-Rounders: Mitchell Marsh, Chris Cairns and Sam Curran
It will be a blockbuster all-rounder’s unit for this XI. The fathers of all Mitchell, Cairns and Sam have played for their country. Mitchell Marsh’s father, as we are aware, is a World Cup winner for Australia. Kevin Curran, Sam’s father, is a Zimbabwe player who has been part of both the 1983 and 1987 World Cup. He was also the coach of the country’s cricket team for a while. Cairns’ father, too, played for New Zealand.
Bowlers: Shaun Pollock (C), Stuart Broad, and Hayden Walsh Jr.
The Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1966, Peter Pollock was an important player for South Africa at his time. His son Shaun achieved big things for the country as a bowling all-rounder. Stuart Broad is the son of Chris Broad, who has also played cricket. Chris is known more of an excellent match-referee. Hayden Walsh Jr.’s father was a domestic cricketer, who represented Antigua in West Indies.
