Godfather of Cricket: Everything you need to know

Every sport has its legends, like football with Lionel Messi and Pelé or basketball with Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Cricket has multiple players throughout its illustrious history who could be considered some of its greatest representatives. 

Some names pop up in the cricket world, and you can always rely on them to be considered some of the greatest. Die-hard cricket fans would label a player like this the ‘Godfather of Cricket’ due to their significant impact on the sport and their profound influence on fans. Do you want to know the best candidates? Get to know more about them, but learn first the criteria! 

How does one become the Godfather of Cricket?

The term ‘Godfather’ is a special title in cricket as it signifies that a specific player had a monumental impact on the sport. It’s not outright the best player in cricket’s history, but the Godfather should be an all-time great who made an impact only matched by a small group of players who could also be candidates for the tag.

Here are some factors that could be considered when deciding a cricketer’s impact: 

• Cultural influence - For a player to be crowned as a Godfather, they should have a strong impact on the sport’s culture. They should be icons due to their exceptional talent, making them a big influence in their countries and worldwide. A cricket Godfather should be well-known worldwide, not only to their country’s cricket fan base. They should be recognised whenever on screen, or their name at least invokes a reaction from the fans.
• A strong legacy as a cricketer - At its core, the Godfather tag should be given to players who have the talent to be called superstars. The player should have achieved notable statistics, success, and a lasting impact on cricket history. 
• A pioneer of the sport - To be a Godfather, one must have made a significant impact on the sport. They must be a pioneer or someone who transformed the sport because of their impact.

The best candidates for the Godfather of Cricket

Don Bradman (Australia)

Donald Bradman is an immortal name in cricket history, largely due to his unparalleled test batting average of 99.94. He set tremendous records that are hard to believe today, which made him the golden standard of cricket during his time as a star player. 

Bradman was a big deal in Australia as he became a cultural symbol. The country saw him as something to believe in, as they got through the Great Depression and the post-war times. He was also crucial in growing the sport worldwide with his performances at the Ashes against England, and his influential batting technique.

Viv Richards (West Indies)

If you want a cricket player who brings flair and a defiant attitude to the sport, look no further than Sir Viv Richards. He redefined what it meant to be a top cricketer in the modern age, as he cemented the West Indies as a powerhouse in the sport. 

Richards was scoring plenty of runs, but he made it fun. He did it with swagger, which was enticing to the young fans of the sport. His fearless batting made him an icon and the symbol of pride in the Caribbean. Richards was also a leader who dominated cricket for over a decade, and his attacking influence remains today.

MS Dhoni (India)

Mahendra Singh (MS) Dhoni is known for being one of India’s top stars. His exceptional leadership helped India win the first-ever T20 World Cup in 2007 and led his country to win the 2011 ODI World Cup. 

Dhoni was always a calm player, earning him the moniker ‘Captain Cool’, which was a fantastic name for him as it described him well. Dhoni had a great attitude that people admired because he was always quietly focused on his tasks. With that focus on the matches, he put in some key performances as a wicketkeeper and batsman.

He mentored a new generation of Indian players, and he is a big reason why the country is such a powerhouse in the sport. With his humble approach to the sport, the younger generation felt they could be like him. His influence on the younger players has led to another golden generation of talented cricketers in India and other countries.

Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

While he often gets overlooked, Jacques Kallis is an underrated Godfather of the sport. He has over 10,000 runs and 290 wickets across Test and ODI cricket. Kallis is arguably the greatest all-rounder cricket has ever seen, which is common now, but only a few can do it at a high level like Kallis.

During his career, Kallis was always the focus of the opponents’ scouting report. Former England captain Michael Vaughan was always wary of playing against Kallis because everyone knew the South African player would always make an impact as a batsman or a bowler.

He was a big reason behind South Africa’s success with batting, and he did that while serving as a frontline seamer. The influence might often be understated by casual cricket fans, but true cricket fans know how much Kallis deserves all the love he is getting. 

Cricket will keep getting new Godfather candidates

Across the sport of cricket, multiple nations have produced legends. Most cricketing countries will bring out top-tier players again, who could become bigger legends than those who precede them.

In most sports, some players are good enough to have long-lasting legacies. They could be famous beyond their careers because they were impactful and influential enough to be remembered by multiple generations. All the cricketers mentioned here are potential Godfathers of the sport, and their names deserve to be etched into history.