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Indian team captain Anil Kumble celebrates after taking a wicket - AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
Kersi’s list of Dual International’s listed some extremely talented individuals. But a sports career only lasts so long, so here are a few occupations before they made it in the big time.
Shane Bond worked as a policeman before turning out for New Zealand, an occupation he claimed helped him with his discipline as a bowler.
His Australian counterpart, Stuart Clark, used to ply his trade as a real estate agent before he undertook a Masters in Commerce and plans to study law after his graduation. This in addition to playing cricket for NSW and Australia.
Sticking with the financial theme, Bryce McGain worked in the IT Department of a bank and never really took his cricket seriously until the turn of the century.
Dirk Nannes, another who came late to cricket, was not only a champion skier but also founded his own ski and snowboarding tour operating company called Global Snow Tours.
Brett Lee is not only the most marketable Aussie on the sub-continent, having sung a duet with Asha Bhosle, but he also plays in a band called “Six And Out”, has his own clothing label, and used to work for a tailor in Sydney.
Former Australian opener Michael Slater was offered the job of Assistant Manager of Wagga Leagues Club, which he seriously considered before he moved to Sydney to pursue his dream of playing cricket full-time, where he worked as the “personal barman” for Bob Radford, former secretary of the NSWCA.
The Waugh twins worked for Sydney cricket outlet, Kingsgrove Sports Centre, where Michael Clarke also got part of his cricketing education. Most notably, Mark Waugh met his former fianceé, 13 years his senior, while working at the store as a 21 year old.
Former South African quick Charl Langeveldt had to juggle his early cricketing career with a job as a warden at a prison just a short drive north of Cape Town.
Remaining in southern Africa, we come to Rudi van Vuuren, a man who featured on Kersi’s list as having played cricket and rugby for Namibia. He is also a qualified physician.
Many cricketers turn their hand to commentary, columns and coaching when they call time on their careers, others lend their name to a good cause and head up charities, while a few take totally different paths.
One such man is Jack Russell, the fantastic English keeper who has branched out to become a full-time artist since retiring from cricket as well as a goal-keeper coach for Forest Green Rovers in English football’s fifth tier.
The name McDermott might be making an appearance on the Australian team sheet before long, but memories of another red-headed Queenslander charging in with a head of steam are still fresh in Australian minds.
Since his retirement from cricket, McDermott has managed to build a real-estate empire on the Gold Coast, declare bankruptcy, and become embroiled in a sex-tape scandal.
Gary Pratt was never really an international cricketer. For those of you who don’t recognise the name, he was the substitute fielder who controversially ran out Ricky Ponting in the 2005 Ashes series has since moved from storage into property development
Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble holds a degree as an engineer, and since leaving the international cricket scene has turned his hand to developing software, predominantly aimed at cricket lovers.
His former teammate and captain Sourav Ganguly has taken full advantage on his demi-god status in West Bengal. Adding to his families’ publishing business, Ganguly has founded a chain of restaurants and has a stake in a multi-national sports management company.
Pakistani legend Imran Khan turned his hand to politics a few years after his retirement but was never really taken seriously, his television appearances were more frequently as a pundit than a lawmaker.
Obviously the list is not all-encompassing, and I’ve only included players who’ve played in the professional era, but feel free to make any additions you might have.
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