They also played politics
John Howard is a politician who's soon to turn cricket administrator. We look at cricketers who dabbled in matters of state
Sriram Veera
11-Mar-2010
Imran Khan was arrested in 2007 for his opposition to President Musharraf • The Independent
Learie Constantine
The first superstar of West Indies cricket was also known for his political achievements. CLR James wrote: "He revolted against the revolting contrast between his first-class status as a cricketer and his third-class status as a man." Born into the family of a sugar-plantation foreman he died Baron Constantine, of Marvel in Trinidad and Tobago, and of Nelson in the County Palatine of Lancaster, a former Cabinet Minister and High Commissioner of his native Trinidad. History respects Constantine as a legend who raised the professional cricketer and the coloured West Indian to a level of respect never before accorded him in Britain. Constantine was awarded an MBE in 1945, knighted in 1962, made an honorary Master of the Bench in 1963, and created a life peer in 1969.
The first superstar of West Indies cricket was also known for his political achievements. CLR James wrote: "He revolted against the revolting contrast between his first-class status as a cricketer and his third-class status as a man." Born into the family of a sugar-plantation foreman he died Baron Constantine, of Marvel in Trinidad and Tobago, and of Nelson in the County Palatine of Lancaster, a former Cabinet Minister and High Commissioner of his native Trinidad. History respects Constantine as a legend who raised the professional cricketer and the coloured West Indian to a level of respect never before accorded him in Britain. Constantine was awarded an MBE in 1945, knighted in 1962, made an honorary Master of the Bench in 1963, and created a life peer in 1969.
Gil Langley
Langley was a wicketkeeper who played 26 Tests for Australia and a very good Australian Rules footballer as well. Since Don Tallon and Ron Saggers were around at the same time as he was, Langley had to wait till he was 32 to play his first Test. "Unshowy and solid, he brought to the exacting task of wicketkeeping the inestimable virtue of safety, day in, day out," Wisden said of him. Langley was the Labour MP for Unley in South Australia's parliament for 20 years, and a much-respected Speaker from 1977 to 1979. He died in 2001, aged 81, a victim of Alzheimer's.
Langley was a wicketkeeper who played 26 Tests for Australia and a very good Australian Rules footballer as well. Since Don Tallon and Ron Saggers were around at the same time as he was, Langley had to wait till he was 32 to play his first Test. "Unshowy and solid, he brought to the exacting task of wicketkeeping the inestimable virtue of safety, day in, day out," Wisden said of him. Langley was the Labour MP for Unley in South Australia's parliament for 20 years, and a much-respected Speaker from 1977 to 1979. He died in 2001, aged 81, a victim of Alzheimer's.
Sam Loxton
Loxton, one of Bradman's 1948 Invincibles, hit 232 on his first-class debut and went on to play 12 Tests for Australia. A courageous batsman, his mantra for bowlers who pitched it short was: "If they do, I'll hit 'em over the fence." On that 1948 tour he scored 973 runs at 57.23, appearing in three Tests. After retiring he spent 24 years as a Liberal Party member in the Victorian Parliament, though he never made it to Cabinet. He served as the Liberal Party whip in the Henry Bolte and Rupert Hamer governments and was the MLA for Prahran for more than two decades.
Loxton, one of Bradman's 1948 Invincibles, hit 232 on his first-class debut and went on to play 12 Tests for Australia. A courageous batsman, his mantra for bowlers who pitched it short was: "If they do, I'll hit 'em over the fence." On that 1948 tour he scored 973 runs at 57.23, appearing in three Tests. After retiring he spent 24 years as a Liberal Party member in the Victorian Parliament, though he never made it to Cabinet. He served as the Liberal Party whip in the Henry Bolte and Rupert Hamer governments and was the MLA for Prahran for more than two decades.
Aftab Gul
In 1968-69, Gul, a student lawyer, became the first cricketer to appear in a Test while on bail for political offences when he made his debut for Pakistan against England in Lahore. Such was his following as a student leader that it was suggested that the selectors did not dare to not play him in the Lahore Test. He averaged 36.77 in 101 first-class games and 22.75 in six Tests. Gul was the founding member of the Peoples Party.
In 1968-69, Gul, a student lawyer, became the first cricketer to appear in a Test while on bail for political offences when he made his debut for Pakistan against England in Lahore. Such was his following as a student leader that it was suggested that the selectors did not dare to not play him in the Lahore Test. He averaged 36.77 in 101 first-class games and 22.75 in six Tests. Gul was the founding member of the Peoples Party.
William Milton
He played in South Africa's first three Tests and later became Sir William after he served as an administrator of Southern Rhodesia. Milton, who had played rugby for England in the mid-1870s, was to play a key role in the development of that sport in South Africa. His arrival in Cape Town in 1878 turned the tide in favour of rugby, which was struggling to survive at the time. By the time the first British tour arrived in 1891, though, Milton had given up playing rugby.
He played in South Africa's first three Tests and later became Sir William after he served as an administrator of Southern Rhodesia. Milton, who had played rugby for England in the mid-1870s, was to play a key role in the development of that sport in South Africa. His arrival in Cape Town in 1878 turned the tide in favour of rugby, which was struggling to survive at the time. By the time the first British tour arrived in 1891, though, Milton had given up playing rugby.
Frank Worrell
Worrell's cricket and political careers overlapped: he was a senator in the Jamaican Legislative Council in 1962, while he was still playing Test cricket. His legacy lies in his breaking of colour barriers in the Caribbean - he was the first black captain to lead West Indies for a full series, and on the epochal 1961 tour of Australia he united all the islands under one potent team. Constantine wrote of Worrell: "He was a man of true political sense and feeling, a federalist who surely would have made even greater contributions to the history of the West Indies had he not died so tragically in hospital of leukaemia at the early age of 42..."
Worrell's cricket and political careers overlapped: he was a senator in the Jamaican Legislative Council in 1962, while he was still playing Test cricket. His legacy lies in his breaking of colour barriers in the Caribbean - he was the first black captain to lead West Indies for a full series, and on the epochal 1961 tour of Australia he united all the islands under one potent team. Constantine wrote of Worrell: "He was a man of true political sense and feeling, a federalist who surely would have made even greater contributions to the history of the West Indies had he not died so tragically in hospital of leukaemia at the early age of 42..."
Imran Khan
For a few years after he quit cricket, Imran, the World Cup-winning captain of Pakistan, concentrated on social work and ran his charity organisation before he entered politics - a decision he attributed to a spiritual awakening that came about as a result of talking to a Sufi mystic towards the end of his time in cricket. In 1996 he founded a small party, Tehreek-e-Insaaf, which contested seven seats in the following year's elections but won none. In the 2002 elections, Imran became the sole elected member from his party. He resigned his seat in 2007, and his party didn't contest the 2008 elections. Imran was put under house arrest in 2007 (whereupon he escaped and went into hiding before being captured and jailed) and in 2009 for "anti-government protests".
For a few years after he quit cricket, Imran, the World Cup-winning captain of Pakistan, concentrated on social work and ran his charity organisation before he entered politics - a decision he attributed to a spiritual awakening that came about as a result of talking to a Sufi mystic towards the end of his time in cricket. In 1996 he founded a small party, Tehreek-e-Insaaf, which contested seven seats in the following year's elections but won none. In the 2002 elections, Imran became the sole elected member from his party. He resigned his seat in 2007, and his party didn't contest the 2008 elections. Imran was put under house arrest in 2007 (whereupon he escaped and went into hiding before being captured and jailed) and in 2009 for "anti-government protests".
Tom Veivers
An offspinner and a useful lower-order batsman, Veivers was known for bowling one of the longest spells in a Test - 55 six-ball overs in England's innings of 611 at Old Trafford in 1964, during which he bowled 75 of the last 80 overs delivered from the City end, finishing with figures of 95.1-36-155-3. Veivers played 21 Tests for Australia before becoming the ALP member for Ashgrove in the Queensland Parliament for one term in the early 1980s.
An offspinner and a useful lower-order batsman, Veivers was known for bowling one of the longest spells in a Test - 55 six-ball overs in England's innings of 611 at Old Trafford in 1964, during which he bowled 75 of the last 80 overs delivered from the City end, finishing with figures of 95.1-36-155-3. Veivers played 21 Tests for Australia before becoming the ALP member for Ashgrove in the Queensland Parliament for one term in the early 1980s.
Clive van Ryneveld
One of the greatest all-round sportsmen produced by South Africa, van Ryneveld was an outstanding rugby three-quarter for England and a useful cricket allrounder for South Africa: a sound batsman and a dangerous if erratic legspinner. However, the demands of his career as a barrister curtailed his cricket appearances, though he captained South Africa against England in 1956-57. He retired from cricket and subsequently became a member of the House of Assembly. In 1961, when South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth, a pained Ryneveld wrote presciently: "In South Africa, the feeling is growing [that] if we don't change our policies, international intervention will come, starting in South-West Africa and from there possibly South Africa."
One of the greatest all-round sportsmen produced by South Africa, van Ryneveld was an outstanding rugby three-quarter for England and a useful cricket allrounder for South Africa: a sound batsman and a dangerous if erratic legspinner. However, the demands of his career as a barrister curtailed his cricket appearances, though he captained South Africa against England in 1956-57. He retired from cricket and subsequently became a member of the House of Assembly. In 1961, when South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth, a pained Ryneveld wrote presciently: "In South Africa, the feeling is growing [that] if we don't change our policies, international intervention will come, starting in South-West Africa and from there possibly South Africa."
Alfred Lyttelton
One of the best amateur sportsmen of his era, Lyttelton played four Tests for England from 1880 to 1884. He made his mark as a wicketkeeper, standing up without a long stop in an era when that was rare. In his last Test he took off his wicketkeeping pads, bowled underarm lobs and took 4 for 8 on the second day. He was the first man to play football and cricket for England, but sport for him was just a pastime and he quit cricket at the age of 28 to pursue his political ambitions. He became an MP and later a colonial secretary in the government of Arthur Balfour, his brother-in-law. Lyttelton's decision to allow Chinese indentured labour into South Africa became a controversial issue, and his attempts to reform Britain's management of the colonies didn't bear fruit. In 1913, he was struck in the stomach during a cricket match in South Africa, following which he took ill shortly after his return to Britain and died after an unsuccessful surgery.
One of the best amateur sportsmen of his era, Lyttelton played four Tests for England from 1880 to 1884. He made his mark as a wicketkeeper, standing up without a long stop in an era when that was rare. In his last Test he took off his wicketkeeping pads, bowled underarm lobs and took 4 for 8 on the second day. He was the first man to play football and cricket for England, but sport for him was just a pastime and he quit cricket at the age of 28 to pursue his political ambitions. He became an MP and later a colonial secretary in the government of Arthur Balfour, his brother-in-law. Lyttelton's decision to allow Chinese indentured labour into South Africa became a controversial issue, and his attempts to reform Britain's management of the colonies didn't bear fruit. In 1913, he was struck in the stomach during a cricket match in South Africa, following which he took ill shortly after his return to Britain and died after an unsuccessful surgery.
MAK Pataudi
Pataudi tried his hand at politics in 1971 after he was deposed as India's captain. He had also effectively lost his title, as prime minister Indira Gandhi had done away with the privileges of the Indian princes. When Pataudi announced that he would represent the Vishal Haryana Party for the Gurgaon constituency, Lala Amarnath, another former great, said he would oppose Patuadi - though he eventually withdrew in the favour of the Congress candidate who eventually trounced Pataudi in the elections. Pataudi got only 22,979 votes out of the almost 400,000 cast, and the newspapers went to town with headlines such as ''Pataudi bowled middle stump.''
Pataudi tried his hand at politics in 1971 after he was deposed as India's captain. He had also effectively lost his title, as prime minister Indira Gandhi had done away with the privileges of the Indian princes. When Pataudi announced that he would represent the Vishal Haryana Party for the Gurgaon constituency, Lala Amarnath, another former great, said he would oppose Patuadi - though he eventually withdrew in the favour of the Congress candidate who eventually trounced Pataudi in the elections. Pataudi got only 22,979 votes out of the almost 400,000 cast, and the newspapers went to town with headlines such as ''Pataudi bowled middle stump.''
Sriram Veera is a staff writer at Cricinfo