Graham Gooch

For a cricketer, who scored a plethora of runs in all forms of the games he played in, including the longer and the abbreviated form of the game, Graham Gooch courted a lot of controversy, both on field and off it. Adding all the runs he scored in first class and List A cricket, apart from the internationals that is, he surpassed Sir Jack Hobbs total, and this can be totally attributed to his physical fitness and longevity.

As a batsman, Graham Gooch was a big tonker of the cricket ball, although he scored a pair in his debut Test match. This prompted selectors to drop him, but he made a comeback again in 1978, before inexplicably going on a rebel South African tour and getting banned. Other mortals would have probably retired, but Gooch served his ban, and continued playing cricket for another 12 years. He was made the captain, and in one Test against India at Lord’s he amassed a triple century and a century in the same match, making him the first player ever in first class cricket to do so. He also holds the unenviable record having featured in three World Cup finals and losing all three.

Gooch retired from cricket in 1997, to assist his long standing county as a coach. He is also later became a cricket commentator, surprising everyone with his wit.