The Top 20 Celebrity Cricket Fans

Contrary to popular opinion, cricket is actually a game loved and followed by a number of well-known celebrities from around the world, as well as some that you may actually be surprised to discover were keen students of the game.

We are here to reveal the top 20 most famous cricket fans on the planet.

Stephen Fry

The 56-year-old actor, comedian, author, journalist, broadcaster and film director is a massive cricket fan and is often seen in various boxes at Test match grounds in London every summer following the game.

Fry was also asked to give the speech at Andrew Strauss' testimonial, in which he quipped: "I have decided, since Sunday, to go into the heterosexual breeding business. My first three sons will be called Collingwood Fry, Anderson Fry and Monty Fry. That’s if their mother can ever get them out, of course."

Mick Jagger

The lead vocalist of the Rolling Stones is so passionate about the game that he even set up his own internet company in 1997, called Jagged Internetworks, so as to be able to watch England play a one-day international tournament in Sharjah!

 

Russell Crowe

New Zealand's famous Oscar-winning actor, who is a cousin of former Kiwi skippers Martin and Jeff Crowe, is a huge fan of the game, telling BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on a visit to watch Australia play England in 2009 that it had "been my dream for 30 years" to go to the home of cricket.

Lily Allen

The singer shocked many during the 2009 Ashes series in England when revealing her real passion for cricket in an interview with Test Match Special presenter Jonathan Agnew in which she said: "I like the beauty of the game, the whites against the green, the pace of it, and the fact that you're allowed to drink in the stand, which you can't do at football."

Michael McIntyre

The hugely popular comedian has had a real love for the sport ever since an early age, telling the Daily Mail: "I wanted to bat for the England cricket team. I was quite good at cricket. But then I kept getting out for low scores. It turned out I didn’t have the talent."

Hugh Jackman

The famous Aussie actor is a self-confessed cricket nut, as he told news.com.au in an interview last year: "I used to come to every day of every Test match ... all day long you're hearing people yell out: 'Have a go, have a go you mug' ... it's not just enough to win, it was more your attitude that people loved and I always say that is something great about Australia.'

Eric Clapton

The legendary English musician has always had a strong interest in the game and can often be seen either at Test matches or more likely playing in the annual Bunbury cricket festival. Although the 68-year-old did admit in 2003: "I love watching cricket but I hate playing it."

Elton John

Elton famously celebrated with the England cricket team following their 1986/87 Ashes win Down Under, inviting Ian Botham et al. back to his hotel suite in Melbourne for an all-night party. The singer-songwriter told TMS back in 2006: "Tests are far more interesting (than one-day internationals), they are more of a chess game. Test match cricket is far more worthwhile and relaxing. I do think you see the best cricket in Tests and I like the fact that you can play for five days and no-one wins."

Rory Bremner

The Scottish impressionist says he has always loved following cricket, not surprisingly, because of all the great personalities to be found in the various commentary boxes around the world—in particular that of legendary former Australia captain and now broadcaster Richie Benaud (listen above).

Johnny Borrell

Many may be surprised to know that the lead singer of Razorlight is also a fan of the game, albeit as a latecomer to the sport, as he explained to TMS in 2007: "When I was 17, I started watching it on the telly as it was a great way of occupying five days before the next dole cheque came in.

"Test cricket all the way for me. I love the subtle shifts, the build-up of pressure. Test cricket is the real story not the contrived results you get in limited-over games."

Harry Judd

The drummer for McFly famously labelled England captain Alastair Cook "a legend" after the Essex opener had scored his record-breaking 23rd Test-match century in India in December 2012.

Shahrukh Khan

The legendary and multi-winning Bollywood actor also co-owns the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and can invariably be seen at Test matches in his homeland supporting the India team.

Katy Perry

The American singer recently made the headlines after recording a message for TMS summariser Geoffrey Boycott in which she told the former England opener that "he was beautiful and his style was stunning."

Daniel Radcliffe

The 24-year-old Harry Potter star told the Daily Mirror last year that he had gone off football but: “I still love cricket. I play EA Cricket on the computer – I am a nerd."

Mark Wahlberg

According to The Sun, the American actor and former rapper is a recent convert to the game, and just last month, the 42-year-old bought a stake in a team in Barbados.

Sam Mendes

The Oscar-winning English film director can often be seen in a box at the Lord's Test match and revealed his true love for the game in Simon Hughes’ book Cricket’s Greatest Rivalry: A History of the Ashes in 10 Matches when he said: "Football was like film – ninety minutes of fast-moving entertainment, which is exciting but doesn’t always leave you with a great deal at the end. Cricket is more like theatre – you need to invest more time to understand the themes, but it gives you greater reward at the end."

Gary Lineker

The former England football captain was also an excellent cricketer growing up and has continued following the game in later life, telling the Daily Mirror: "I was in both the football and cricket teams and got a lot of goals and runs. I was captain of the Leicestershire Schools cricket team from 11 to 16 and thought at the time I would probably have more chance afterwards in cricket than football."

Piers Morgan

The former editor of the Daily Mirror, and now host of Piers Morgan Live on CNN, has always retained a strong interest in the sport, despite his first love being that of Arsenal FC. The 48-year-old even famously got star England batsman Kevin Pietersen to turn out for his local village team in 2008!

David Cameron

The British Prime Minister sent the England team an "inspirational" message on the eve of this summer's Ashes series with Australia (see above) and is invariably seen mingling with the public at Test matches in London, when work allows of course.

Michael Palin

The star of Monty Python has always been a huge fan of the game, as he explained to Lord's TV during a visit to the home of cricket to watch the first Test against New Zealand earlier this summer.

"It's always exciting to be here (Lord's), I can never believe that there is this great green space in the middle of urban London where exciting things happen and I just love it here," said Palin (see above).

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