Cricket QuoteBook: What They Said, Really Meant and Definitely Did Not

When they say something, do they really mean what they said?

Cricketers have just as much to say as other celebrities and yet very little time to gather their thoughts prior to being grilled in their interactions with the media.

Taking the hard knocks on the chin is expected of them.

However, some handle the press better than others.

Five memorable quotes from MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Ali Brown, Graeme Swann and Nasser Husain.

What they said, really meant and definitely did not

.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Has Not Lost Sleep

What he said:

"We have not been sleeping so we don’t need a wake-up call."

Mahendra Singh Dhoni retains his sense of humour in responding to a question at a press conference whether the 3-0 series scoreline is a wake-up call.

What he really meant:

“Actually, the boys are groggy from lack of sleep. IPL partying, West Indian discos and charity dinners kept them on their toes.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Motion sickness? Oh, yes, we’re going through the motions and our fans are sick.

Rahul Dravid Is Shoed off the Field

What he said:

“I could never have imagined it was a shoelace.”

Rahul Dravid is flabbergasted to learn to that the sound he heard came not from his bat but from an errant shoelace. Dravid walked on being adjudged caught behind by umpire Simon Taufel in the second innings of the third Test at Edgbaston.

In his own words: “"My first instinct was that I had not hit it. But there was a loud noise, and I couldn't figure out where it had come from. I knew I hadn't hit the ground, or my pad, or my shoe, so it confused me as to where the noise had come from. But I didn't think I had touched it. So I asked my partner and he said there was a big noise. So I had Simon Taufel, one of the best umpires in the world, ruling me out, my partner saying it was out and I myself had heard the noise. I thought maybe it was just one of those instances where I hadn't felt the edge.”

What he really meant:

“A shoelace? A shoelace?? A shooooooelaaace?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Now, if I had listened to my momma and fastened untied, untidy laces, this would have never occurred.”

Ali Brown Hits His Cut off

What he said:

“I always believed that the day my age exceeds my batting average it would be time to consider calling time on my career."

Ali Brown (Alistair Duncan Brown), former English cricketer, announces his retirement from county cricket (and Surrey) with a witticism. Ali is 41 and his first-class average is 42.67.

What he really meant:

“’41 out on 42’ is what I really wanted to say.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I didn’t want to go out with my waist exceeding my batting average.”

Graeme Swann Is a Hero Worshipper

What he said:

"I spend half my working life standing next to Strauss and I have to admit he is a bit of a hero to me."

Graeme Swann admits to hero worshipping his skipper, Andrew Strauss.

What he really meant:

“Strauss is the pillar I lean on. As for the other half of my working life, I spend next to KP. Now you know, no real comparison.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Andrew, you’re the wind beneath my wings.”

Nasser Husain Is Unmoved by Broken Fingers

What he said:

“All the best for your charity but no sympathies for your injured fingers for what you did to me in the NatWest final.”

Nasser Husain has a long memory. He may no longer don English colours but his bloody-mindedness survives. Yuvraj Singh is the target of the jab above.

What he really meant:

“I know what you can do—healthy and injury-free. Broady remembers too.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Half a dozen roses for my Indian friend and a get-well-soon card, please. Overnight delivery.”

Disclaimer

Disclaimer:

The persons are real and the "What he/she said" quotes are true and attributed. "What he/she really meant" and "What he/she definitely didn't" quotes are fictional.