Kevin Pietersen and Cricket's Best Tattooed XI
There are no half measures when it comes to Kevin Pietersen's batting, and the same can be said for his tattoos.
The former England batsman recently paid another visit to the tattooist's chair for a new “love it or hate it” ink.
Covering much of KP's back, the latest addition is a map of the world complete with stars representing the places where he's scored a century for England.
It certainly won't be to everyone's taste, but let's be generous and call it unique.
Of course, Pietersen isn't the only cricketer to boast a tattoo. Many of the game's biggest names brandish an inky arm or back.
Read on to found out who is in cricket's best tattooed XI.
Honourable Mentions
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Sorry Jade Dernbach. Impressive though your sleeve tattoos may be, they don't quite make the cut here. The same goes for Somerset's Peter Trego.
MS Dhoni's lesser-spotted motorcycle tattoo also just misses the cut in our inked XI.
1. Chris Gayle
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Chris Gayle is one of the most outlandish and flamboyant cricketers playing today. It's no surprise, then, that he's a keen follower of fashion away from the crease.
"No charge he said for Tattoo! What u all think? Should I get a Tattoo? But if I'm will be tmrw thou! I ave a skull in mind on right harm
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) May 1, 2011"
The big-hitting batsman did follow the tattoo trend and added a selection of stars to the skull inked on his (h)arm.
2. Alex Hales
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Courage. That's what you need as an opening batsman facing the 95 mph bombs delivered from the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Pat Cummins.
If England's Alex Hales needs a reminder, he can just look down at his right forearm. The 26-year-old has the Arabic spelling of courage inked there.
According to Richard Hobson of The Times, Hales "chose to have it etched on to a part of his body that is clearly visible when he is at the crease."
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3. Virat Kohli
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India's most celebrated contemporary batsman, Virat Kohli, boasts a number of tattoos. Chief among them is his star sign, Scorpio, which appears on his upper right arm
According to his official website, Kohli's "favourite is the tattoo of a Japanese Samurai warrior with a raised sword. The Japanese tattoo shows his confidence level both in his personal and professional life."
He showed plenty of confidence on India's recent tour of Australia.
4. Michael Clarke
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“The pain of discipline is something similar to the pain of disappointment.” Aussie skipper Michael Clarke liked opener-turned-philosopher Justin Langer's words of wisdom so much that he had them translated into Arabic then tattooed onto his arm.
According to Australia's Daily Telegraph, Clarke also has “carpe diem” on his left arm, an angel on his right shoulder, his Test number in Roman numerals on his back, as well as the names of his parents inked on his torso.
Not everyone has been impressed with Clarke's artwork, though. In December 2010, PerthNow.com.au quoted Aussie legend Rodney Marsh as saying, “How can we have a bloke captain Australia with tattoos? It's just not on. We'd have pulled 'em out, I reckon.”
5. Kevin Pietersen
6 of 12Shortly after starting his international career with England, Kevin Pietersen had the three lions inked on his arm to supposedly show his loyalty to his new home.
It was a decision he'd later come to rue. In his autobiography, KP wrote, “I regret the way I carried on back then, especially the three lions tattoo I got during the first one-day series I played in South Africa. When I think of it now I blush.”
Hopefully, he won't have any second thoughts about his latest addition. The map of the world etched on his back features 36 red stars, one to represent every international century he's scored for England.
It's unlikely he'll be adding any more stars in the future.
6. Brendon McCullum
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We don't imagine many cricketers pack the collected works Cicero, Ovid or Horace for their overseas tour reading. Many of them have a liking for Latin when it comes to numbers, though.
Brendon McCullum is one such player. The New Zealand skipper has CXXVI (126), XLII (42) and CCXXIV (24) tattooed on his arm, marking his cap number in Tests, ODIs and Twenty20Is.
“The numbers represent something very special to me because I have always wanted to play cricket for my country,” McCullum told Sport24 in 2008.
7. Andrew Flintoff
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Joining McCullum in the Roman numeral gang is Andrew Flintoff. Freddie has Test and ODI numbers incorporated into a three lions design on his upper right arm.
The Lancashire all-rounder, who is currently appearing in the Big Bash down under, also has the names of his wife and children inked on his left shoulder.
8. Mitchell Johnson
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Mitchell Johnson has been a bit more original than his contemporaries when it comes to body art.
Instead of indecipherable Arabic phrases or Latin numbers, the Aussie paceman has opted for bold images including a dragon and a large, cat-like creature on his torso
"[There's] a Japanese-style koi, some cherry blossoms that have a meaning of luck,” he told a press conference prior to the 2010 Ashes (via the Guardian).
“I had three sittings. The last bit was only two weeks after I had the previous bit done. That hurt because I was still a bit tender. It wasn't as bad as the side. That killed me. I don't know it if has brought me good luck, I hope so."
The 3-1 series defeat to England suggests that it didn't.
9. Peter Siddle
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“Under The Southern Cross I Stand” has become the unofficial anthem of the Australian cricket team. Rather than just singing it at the close of a victorious match, Aussie paceman Peter Siddle decided to go a step further.
Siddle had the constellation that inspired the song tattooed on his back.
“Growing up was about wanting to play for Australia and dreaming of playing in a winning Ashes side,” Siddle told the Daily Mail. “That’s what it’s all about.”
10. Dale Steyn
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Like Peter Siddle, Dale Steyn's tattoo has a patriotic slant.
“It’s the three proteas,” Steyn told the Times of India. “All of them are in the colours of the South African flag. So, you have blue, yellow, and red. The leaves are in black and I’m white. Ha-ha, I’m white ... that’s a joke that I make. People sometimes find it offensive.”
We're expecting plenty from Steyn in the forthcoming World Cup.
11. Lasith Malinga
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“I believe in myself. I have got speed”. So reads one of the many tattoos that adorn Lasith Malinga's body.
The Sri Lankan paceman's arm also features a list of important dates, including his Test debut and the day he took four wickets in four balls against South Africa.
"If I create more records I may get more tattoos,” Malinga told The Indian Express. “I got these done after I created my world record. They were very special moments for me that is why I have them tattooed on my arm.”
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