Shikhar Dhawan hit a Test century on début and hindered the chances of a comeback for Sehwag and Gambhir. And if that was not enough, he scored back to back hundreds on his ODI comeback. While these hundreds would be remembered in the times to come, along with them people will fondly recollect how he twirled his moustache celebrating his special moments. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja who seemed to have followed the Dhawan style sense has not done badly either in the recent times. Both of them have had a good enough start to their Test and ODI career, it would still take a long time before they could make it to this Moustache XI.
1) Graham Gooch
Many batsmen would have liked to cross the run record Jack Hobbs set but Gooch in his trademark style went on to break that record. The current England batting consultant was doggedness personified in his playing days. Gooch was not as attractive as Gower or as flamboyant as the current English batting sensation Kevin Pietersen, but Gooch was persistent and effective to the core for England.
2) David Boon
There are tales that describe how he once went wild with Beers on his way to England. However, his 17 long years of international cricket were full of grit, efficiency and an attitude of a winner. David Boon served Australian and Tasmanian cricket with distinction. Boon batted as a top order batsman. Healthy, he surely was but his reflexes at the forward short leg earned him the tag of one of the game’s outstanding close-in fielders. By all means, his presence was Boon to world cricket.
3) Ian Chappell
He was shrewd, dashing and a no-nonsense Australian who did not mind to sledge. Ian Chappell played his cricket with gusto. While his on the field aggression gave Australia the purpose it needed, his off the field heroics often put him in a trouble. There are many who he offended on the field, but there is only one Ian Botham who continues to dislike him.
4) Javed Miandad
Indians remember him the most for his last ball six and monkey like jumps mimicking Kiran More. But he stood solid when Pakistan needed him the most; with the bat, with the barrage of verbal volleys and with what not, Javed Miandad loved to fight and get better of his opposition. While all the above mentioned characteristic made him a damn interesting individual, his never-give up attitude made him a special cricketer.
5) Allan Border
By no means Allan Border was the most attractive Australian batsmen. But he taught Australia how to fight and emerge triumphant amidst the most difficult situations. Post the mass retirement of legends in 1980s, Border was asked to lead a relatively young and inexperienced team. The things did not start on a bright note, but he along with Bob Simpson helped Australia rise through the ashes.
6) Clive Lloyd
Lloyd, the leader and Lloyd, the batsman were equally effective. Along with scoring runs, the spectacled man taught the bunch of high on skills West Indian youngsters how to play as a team. In fact, Lloyd's team was the reason the Caribbean Islands relinquished their Island specific identity and supported the national team with valour.
7) Rod Marsh
His journey as an International wicket-keeper started on a sloppy note. But by the end of his career he had done enough to be regarded as one of the best gloves man of Australia if not of world cricket. He was swift as a rabbit behind the wickets and married his diving abilities to a solid wicket-keeping technique. Chirpy and aggressive, Rod Marsh made a super combo with menacing Dennis Lillie.
8) Kapil Dev
Till Kapil Dev was brought into the team Indian non-spin bowlers were used to take the shine off the ball. With his emergence though, the scene of the pace bowling started to look positive in India. Not just that he had the pace to his bowling, he was athletic, strongly build and remained injury-free for a long time. And throughout his career, the moustache did not go away.
9) Merv Hughes
His contributions to the Australian cricket are as monumental as him. Feisty, he surely was and he did not make any bones about it. This gigantic man from Australia took pleasure in troubling the batsmen during their stay at the crease. And as if his pace was not nerve wracking, the moustache added more impact to the fear factor.
10) Dennis Lillie
Fearsome with the ball and equally lethal with the sledge-work, Dennis Lillie ended his Test career with 355 wickets. But that is not the only reason why people still remember Lillie; the aluminium bat, a fight with Miandad and a bet which he and Marsh lost are some of the other reasons that helped Lillie to permanently seal the place in the hearts of the cricket fans.
11) Bishan Singh Bedi
India produced many spinners before him and after him. But not many had the Bedi like personality traits. While the spin and guile he bowled with confused the batsmen, his political incorrectness continued to ruffle many feathers. Post his retirement from International cricket; he played the role of a coach, team manager, cricket analyst and what not, but his straightforward views have remained steadfast. A classic case of old habits die hard.
This list is just a token and everyone is likely to have their own list of the moustaches that made the game of cricket proud. So, go ahead, come up with your list of the players who could have made it to the moustache XI. And if you don’t mind, do holdingwilley know about it at editor@holdingwilley.com