Ranking the 25 Greatest Families in the History of Cricket
Sometimes in cricket, having one family member play the game at the international level just is not enough.
On a number of occasions, two, three or four people from the same family have turned out and covered themselves in glory, with many making it all the way to the top.
With that in mind, let’s commemorate Colin Cowdrey’s birthday, December 24, and look back at the 25 greatest families in the history of cricket, ranked in descending order.
The ranking is largely determined by how much each individual has achieved in the game and how many family members have played international cricket.
Let’s get started.
25. Gavaskar
1 of 25
In at No. 25 come the Gavaskar family, led by Sunil, the legendary Indian opener who was crucial for the national team.
Unfortunately, his son, Rohan, did not quite hit the same heights as his father, although he played in 11 one-day internationals.
24. Hollioake
2 of 25
Two brothers with a tragic story come next, as Ben Hollioake promised much but was then cut off as he approached his prime after being killed in a car accident in 2002.
His older brother, Adam, was one of the best captains in Surrey’s history and would surely have played more for England in limited-overs cricket.
23. Binny
3 of 25
Roger Binny was a seam bowler for India and is now on their selection committee and regarded as a living legend.
His son, Stuart, is regularly in contention for international squads, leading to accusations of a conflict of interest with his father.
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22. Pathan
4 of 25
A pair of incredibly talented Indians follow, as Irfan and Yusuf Pathan make this list at No.22.
Irfan has fallen off the national radar slightly after a trough of form, while Yusuf is a very accomplished batsman and occasional bowler in the Indian Premier League.
21. Benaud
5 of 25
Having Richie Benaud as a brother was always going to be a difficult act to follow, and so it proved for John Benaud, who was overshadowed by his sibling.
Richie was a brilliant bowler and captain for Australia and has been one of the best television commentators in the world for decades after retirement.
20. Butcher
6 of 25
Alan Butcher appeared in one Test for England, while his son, Mark, did better in the opening spots or at No. 3.
Mark’s peak came in 2001 against Australia at Headingley, when he hit 173 to lead England to a victory in the fourth Ashes Test.
19. Stewart
7 of 25
At one stage, Mickey Stewart was the coach of the England national team, while his son, Alec, was vying for selection and the captaincy.
Alec never captained the side under his father, but it made for an interesting tandem in the team.
18. Bravo
8 of 25
Two siblings who continue to have an impact for the West Indies are Dwayne and Darren Bravo, who are talented in different ways.
Darren is a very talented No. 3 batsmen, while Dwayne is an aggressive all-rounder capable of big shots and miserable bowling spells.
17. Akmal
9 of 25
A trio of Akmals follow at No. 17, as Umar, Kamran and Adnan have all gained recognition for Pakistan.
Umar has perhaps performed the best of all, although they have all had their struggles with form and consistency.
16. McCullum
10 of 25
Brendon McCullum is a crucial part of New Zealand’s lineup with his batting prowess, while brother Nathan is an occasional player as an all-rounder.
Brendon is definitely the better-known sibling, but Nathan could have an impact, too, if he gets a run in the team.
15. Lee
11 of 25
At one stage, Brett Lee was the fastest bowler in the world, with his speeds clocking over 100 mph for Australia.
His brother, Shane, was a bits-and-pieces all-rounder but still good enough to have a decent ODI career for the Baggy Green.
14. Cowdrey
12 of 25
Birthday boy Colin Cowdrey follows at No. 14, with his son, Chris, having played for and captained England, like his father.
In addition, while not a blood tie, former England batsman Peter May was also Chris’ godfather.
13. Kirsten
13 of 25
Two batting South Africans follow at No. 13, as Peter and Gary Kirsten make an appearance.
Both were hardworking and occupied slots in the top order, with Peter key as the Proteas reintegrated in international cricket and Gary part of a dominant side in the 2000s.
12. Bracewell
14 of 25
Another trio follows at No. 12, as the Bracewell family makes an appearance having done all sorts for New Zealand.
All three have played in Tests for the Black Caps, with John also having coached the side.
11. Morkel
15 of 25
More South Africans come next, as Albie and Morne Morkel look forward to their future endeavours together for the Proteas.
Morne has become one of the most effective seam bowlers in the world, while Albie is highly sought after for his Twenty20 prowess.
10. Grace
16 of 25
The Graces were the first great cricketing family, of which there were three as the sport gained popularity in England.
W.G. was the most famous, although E.M. and G.F. were strong players in the own right, if overshadowed by their dominant brother.
9. Hussey
17 of 25
Michael and David Hussey both had slightly differing careers, but they have both become famous across the world.
Michael was a superb batsman for Australia in all forms, and while David never quite secured his place in the team, he played brilliantly across the world in limited-overs games.
8. Broad
18 of 25
Currently, Chris Broad is an ICC match referee, while his son Stuart opens the bowling for England.
Chris was also an opening batsman for England, too, and one who enjoyed occupying the crease for long periods.
7. Flower
19 of 25
Two of the best batsmen in Zimbabwean cricket came from the same family, as Andy and Grant Flower led their side in their early years of Test cricket.
Both would have fit right into any team, and their departures for various reasons left quite a gap in the country’s national team that can arguably never be filled.
6. Headley
20 of 25
A multinational family follows at No. 6, as George Headley and Ron Headley both played for the West Indies, while Dean turned out for England.
George was often described by his contemporaries as the “Black Bradman,” as he played some heroic knocks for his country.
5. Marsh
21 of 25
A trio of Marshes follow at No. 5, as Geoff Marsh’s sons, Shaun and Mitchell, are both in the reckoning for regular places in the Australia team.
Geoff also played for Australia and has had a good coaching career since retirement, too.
4. Chappell
22 of 25
Of the three Chappell brothers to play international cricket, Ian and Greg both captained Australia and enjoyed great success.
Trevor did not quite hit the heights of his siblings, although he gained notoriety for bowling the ball underarm against New Zealand.
3. Waugh
23 of 25
The Waugh twins will go down in history as some of the best brothers to play cricket, having both represented Australia with distinction.
Steve captained the team in their period of domination, while Mark was a silky batsman who made everything look easy.
2. Hadlee
24 of 25
Four Hadlees played cricket for New Zealand—Walter, Barry, Dayle and Richard.
The last of those also had the most success and was the first to be knighted for services to the game while still playing.
1. Pollock
25 of 25
Atop this list comes the Pollock family of South Africa, who have seen Graeme, Peter and Shaun all gain success and do so in their own right.
Graeme was a brilliant left-handed batsman, his brother Peter was an effective seamer and Shaun was an opening bowler who also captained the Proteas.
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