Tiger, pigeon, pup? Cricketers with animal nicknames
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By Kersi Meher-Homji, 2 Oct 2009 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert
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From nineteenth century to recent times, cricketers have prided themselves on having nicknames, from odd, to contrasting, to bang on target. And what a range: Tiger O’Reilly, Slasher Mackay, Chappelli, Henry Lawson, Dizzy Gillespie, Pigeon McGrath and Pup Clarke.
With Australia touring India for seven one-day internationals (ODIs) in October amd November, this subject becomes relevant again.
Remember the cruel monkey chants Andrew Symonds received from spectators when playing ODIs in India in 2007?
This flared up sensationally during the rancorous Sydney Test of January 2008 when India’s off-spinner Harbhajan Singh allegedly called Symonds a monkey. Hell was let loose as there were allegations of racial abuse.
“Bollyline” became more acrimonious than bodyline of 1932-33.
I found this astonishing as England’s Albert N. Hornsby was nicknamed Monkey and was not offended. Far from it!
Hornby had played three Tests for England from 1879 to 1884, opening the batting with WG Grace in his final Test. He captained England in the 1882 Oval Test when the legend of Ashes was born.
He also represented England in nine Rugby Tests. And he was proud of his nickname.
Sadly, everything is given racial connotations these days.
There were three Tigers: the great Bill O’Reilly, Ernest Smith (11 Tests for England in 1910s) and Mansur Pataudi (India’s captain in 1960s and ’70s).
Now, for some seafood platter.
Digby Jephson of Cambridge University and Surrey was called Lobster, and Sir Henry D.G. Leveson Gower (three Tests for England in 1909) had the unflattering nickname of Shrimp.
Tall and slim Australian all-rounder Hunter Hendry (11 Tests between World Wars) was known as Stork.
Then there were the two Australian Test cricketers in the 1970s, Alan Froggy Thomson and Bruce Mule Francis.
Joel Big Bird Garner, the tall West Indian fast bowler, was nicknamed after a character in the children’s TV serial Sesame Street, and Clive Big Cat Lloyd for his size and agility on the field.
England’s pace bowler Geoff Arnold had the pet name of Horse because of his initials ‘GG,’ which is Cockney for horse.
Australian spinner Bruce Yardley was Roo for his bouncing kangaroo-like approach to the wicket. And the eccentric English spinner, Phil Tufnell, went by the pet name of Cat.
Simon Katich is nicknamed Kat but that is the short form of his surname.
Pigeon McGrath flew away from Test scene in 2007, but Pup Clarke is still with us, scoring elegant runs and capturing wickets when least expected.
NSW medium-pacer Aaron Bird (who will tour India for the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 with NSW Blues this month) was nicknamed Flu, from Bird Flu! But he was not allowed to retain the nickname as many thought it to be offensive for those affected with the disease.
Aren’t we getting a bit over-sensitive these days?
What was fun in the past is considered insulting now.
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Freud of Football said | October 2nd 2009 @ 4:28am | Report comment
“Aren’t we getting a bit over-sensitive these days? ” – Have to agree there, I mean what person with bird Flu is offended by a nickname of somebody else? It’s hardly a jibe at the illness and it’s meant to be about the player, not bird flu itself, unfortunately however that is the sort of politically correct world we live in.
Surely we most be close to a tipping point where everything becomes so politically correct that its politically incorrect?
I’ve got another Tiger for you Kersi, Shiv Chanderpaul is often referred to as Tiger by Windies fans.
Here’s my contribution to your collection: James Hopes is known as “Catfish”, Merv Hughes was “Fruitfly” (very very apt) and Ash Noffke is known as “Wombat”.
Honourable mentions should go to Ian “Beefy” Botham and Mathew “Skippy” Sinclair.
Good to see some really imaginative one’s, I particularly like “Zulu” for Lance Klusener, “Freak” for Ian Harvey (weird watching him field in the deep and fling them back with either arm), “Afghan” for the forgotten but surely more talented Waugh and while off topic and perhaps a little cruel, I thought “Stresscothick” was amusing, even when mental illness is not.
vinay verma said | October 2nd 2009 @ 6:37am | Report comment
Kersi…You will recall Graeme Beard and one of my team,Stuart monickered him as “Agatha” because he had a mystery ball, In fact I believe GB (we also called him Grace Bros) perfected the doosra before Saqlain. Graeme was also called Barry (Manilow) because he never had a hair out of place. I remember a day we both bowled unchanged for 68 overs and at the end he still looked like something out of a Brylcreem ad in the 1960′s and I loked like a wet and grey cat.
Seeing as we are all so PC I was once admonished by Tom Brooks (a great man) for calling someone “Honky” I have always been terrible at remembering names and my excuse when playing was ” You guys all look the same” I liked calling most of my opponents (and sometimes teammates) SnowWhite or PowderPuff. On the flipside I have been alled Kamahl and Gungadin.
But always what was said on the field was left there. And always drinks in the shed.
Professor Rosseforp said | December 5th 2010 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
I played very badly in local club cricket for a number of years, and my captain was Chinese. His brother would open the batting, and it was surprising how often the Captain would come in at no 4 or 5 to comments like “Didn’t we get you out before?” or “Haven’t you already batted?”. They had another brother, who, fortunately, didn’t play. When the Captain used to bowl extremely fast leg-breaks, there were always comments about bowling a “chinaman” — I think they took this with more grace than I would have.
Kersi Meher-Homji said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Freud of Football and Vinay,
Thanks for your interesting additions.
On a personal note, I have three nicknames; Nostradamus, Fast horse and Km/h
Nostradamus; because I had predicted in the Sydney Press Box before the 2006 Sydney Test v. South Africa that Ricky Ponting will hit a century in his 100th Test. Ricky hit two!
Fast horse because my first name Kershasp (Kersi is a short form) means fast horse.
Nick Raman, the editor of Inside Cricket magazine, calls me Km/h because at the speed (160 km per hour!) at which I submit my stories to him. Also because of my initials KM-H.
Enough on I, me, myself!! Let other nicknames of cricketers of animal origin keep comong.
Greg Russell said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
A few weeks ago Alec Swann wrote a Roar article in which he self-effacingly took credit for the sobriquet “Mr Cricket” (“How I gave Mr Cricket his nickname”). Some days later he wrote a preview to the 5th test entitled “Put the house on Australia in this fascinating Ashes series”. I posted the following comment in response:
“What’s next – are you going to try to make us believe that you are responsible for David Hussey’s nickname of “Little Mr Cricket”?”
Alec replied “I didn’t realise David Hussey had a nickname.”
Go figure!
Vinay, my wife was a student at Barrenjoey High when Graeme Beard was a teacher there. Those were the days – a full-time teacher in the Australian cricket team! That’s actually not that long ago.
Martin Crowe’s nickname of “Hogan” is a good one. I’m sure you can all work that one out. But Gilchrist’s of “Churchy” is very obscure (and it’s nothing to do with his sometime penchant for saintliness on the cricket field).
“Waltzing” for the Newcastle rugby league player Matt Hilder is one I find very hard to top.
Kersi Meher-Homji said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Greg,
Gil-christ. Christ for church. That’s how I would figure it out. Howzatt?
Greg Russell said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
Kersi,
According to Ian Healy, a kid approached Gilchrist on the 1997 tour of England, when he was the unknown reserve wicketkeeper, and said “Aren’t you Adam Gilchurch? Can I have your autograph”.
As I said, very obscure, as is often the way with nicknames.
Kersi Meher-Homji said | October 2nd 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Very clever, Greg.
I loved the Waltzing nickname for “Matilda” (Matt Hilder).
vinay verma said | October 2nd 2009 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Greg…I have reconsidered..I change your sobriquet from “Tongs” to “Bertrand”…as you would say “go figure”
Greg Russell said | October 2nd 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Vinay, a bit late on this one: some of my friends used to call me Bertrand, and his History of Western Philosophy is one of my favourite books.
I cannot say how impressed I am that you once bowled 34 overs unchanged. Much as I love cricket, I think it would be something of a nightmare for me if a captain were to make me bowl 34 overs unchanged. I don’t even think I could bat for 68 overs … even I would get bored with my batting over such a period this long!
vinay verma said | October 2nd 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
Greg…One of my favourite ,as yet,unwritten books is “The History of Indian Philosophy….Quarto,1975″ It would encaspulate the patience of Venkat,the languid spohistry of Bedi, the heavenly trajectory of Prassana and the cobra-spit of Chandrashekar.a
Brett McKay said | October 2nd 2009 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
+ 1 Greg, I wouldn’t have bowled 34 overs in my life, and that includes the backyard…
Kersi Meher-Homji said | October 2nd 2009 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Talking of Graeme “Agatha” Beard, the famous cricket statistician Bill Frindall was nicknamed Bearded. For his beard, of course. And he titled his autobiography Beards (or Bearded, not sure).
Jay said | October 2nd 2009 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
I recall that Anil Kumble’s nickname is Jumbo. Perhaps related to an animal? Afterall he was not reknowned for his flight.
vinay verma said | October 2nd 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
Jay..this is because Kumble got disconcerting bounce with his height and arm action…like a Jumbo jet that takes off almost vertically (comparatively speaking,of course) I bekieve it was Kapil or Rahul Dravid that nicknamed him thus.
vinay verma said | October 2nd 2009 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
Greg/Kersi..pity is that none of the 34 were “maidens”…And talking of maidens why was Nadkarni named “Bapu” , Kersi?
If it was after the Mahatma then Happy Gandhi Birthday Today.