5 Symbolic celebrations of cricketers over the years

Cricketers have earned a reputation for their on-field accomplishments over the years. Because of their continuous performances on the field, certain players become legends in the game.

The custom of celebrating victory in cricket undoubtedly originated in the 1980s, and by the time the 1990s began, it had become a regular aspect of the game, with numerous odd ways of celebrating success for cricketers. When a player has any form of success in the game, whether it is batting, bowling, or fielding, a large number of players celebrate in a variety of ways.

Some athletes hold a symbolic celebration for a specific reason. These celebrations attract the public’s attention and make them memorable. These types of celebrations are associated with the players and are remembered for years.

In the article, let’s take a look at five symbolic celebrations of cricketers over the years:

1. Sheldon Cottrell

Sheldon Cottrell, the left-arm fast bowler, hails from the West Indies, a country known for its eccentric celebrations. He has an uncanny ability to celebrate, and he does it every time he takes a wicket. Following each of his wickets, he marches down the pitch and salutes the dressing room.

When asked about the significance of his celebration, he stated that it is a military salute. He is a soldier by profession, and saluting is only a sign of respect for the Jamaica Defence Force. When he was in the army, he practiced it for six months.

He was a member of the Jamaican Defense Force (JDF). He had to battle in the deadly Tivoli Incursion (Kingston unrest in 2010) that converted a chunk of Kingstone into a combat zone back in May 2010. Cottrell was 21 years old at the time, and he had lost a few of colleagues. Therefore, as a symbol of respect he marches on and salutes every time after taking a wicket.

2. Daren Sammy

Another West Indian and the former captain of the national team, Daren Sammy, had a unique way of celebrating a wicket when he was playing in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013. He pulled out a pacifier from his pocket and placed it in his mouth, signaling the crowd with his hands held in a baby-carrier pose.

His celebration became known as the ‘pacifier’ celebration, and it was picked up on the cricket field by numerous cricketers subsequently. He was celebrating since he had a baby daughter, and this celebration was on his mind before the match. “I had had a baby girl back home and I was in my room thinking about how I was going to celebrate,” he explained

He further quoted, “I saw my baby girl suck on the pacifier and then I said to myself: Oh, I will get my pacifier out after a wicket or a landmark.” This celebration became a popular kind of celebration and was symbolic of the love of a cricketer towards his/her child.

3. Ben Stokes

The flamboyant all-rounder from England had a topsy-turvy career till date. He has established his imprint in the game while battling with injuries and off-field incidents. He is widely considered as one of the best all-rounders in cricket. His life, however, has not been simple, as he has faced numerous mental challenges during his career.

On a somewhat dead pitch on day five, Stokes led England to a Test match victory over South Africa. The England all-rounder produced a stunning spell, bending his back and generating serious pace, to pick up three wickets and take his side past the finish line. Stokes posed with a folded middle finger after the match, which piqued interest.

Stokes’ hand gesture after the win was a tribute to his father Ged. During his rugby league career, Ged had to amputate a part of his middle finger after an injury to continue playing, because he couldn’t afford a surgery. Ged Stokes fell ill ahead of the ongoing South Africa series and could not watch his son play despite travelling to South Africa. Ged was diagnosed with brain cancer and passed away on December 8, 2020.

4. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar, known as the ‘God of Cricket,’ experienced severe personal setbacks throughout his career. Fans will remember his symbolic celebration of staring up at the sky after reaching a century for a long time. His struggles encouraged the country’s youth, and many aspiring cricketers look up to him for motivation to represent their country at an international level.

Tendulkar lost his father the night before India took on Zimbabwe in the league stages of the 1999 cricket World Cup. Sachin rushed back home to be with his family. But, three days later, he was back in Bristol, scoring an emotional century against Kenya. The century by Sachin Tendulkar powered India to a vital victory and ensured they progressed further in the tournament.

After that incident, he continued to glance up at the sky after hitting a century in whatever format of the game to remember and pay his respects to his deceased father. He continued to play for India until 2013, amassing the most runs of any player to date. This experience inspired him to give his all for his nation, and his celebration marks the pinnacle of his illustrious career.

5. Brett Lee

The ferocious fast bowler of Australia was menacing to face as a batter in the cricket field. Brett Lee had a variety of celebrations after taking a wicket in the game of cricket. His chainsaw celebration, and kicking his own legs style of celebration was one of the iconic celebrations of his career.

The origins of the ‘chainsaw’ celebration was unknown until Lee revealed it himself. Brett Lee shared a video of himself and his father in the fields on Instagram. His father was observed bending to the ground and pulling the cable to start the chainsaw, while Brett joyfully gestured the same motion. The former speedster demonstrated that he learned his well-known chainsaw celebration from his father.

He wished all the Dads out there a happy Father’s Day in a nice greeting. He then lauded and praised his father, referring to him as “great Bob Lee.” He described Lee Senior as the “world’s greatest dad” and said he had learned a lot from him, the most important of which was his post-wicket celebration.