Random Cricket Photos Post 76

#RandomCricketPhotosThatMakeMeHappy

While the concept of WAGs in Cricket might have developed only in the 21st century, the wives of cricketers have always been an important force in the game, acting mostly from behind the curtains. Virat Kohli might not quit cricket today over the board not allowing Anushka Sharma to accompany him on foreign tours, but it’s not that something like this has never happened. In fact, a century ago, the career of the world’s best bowler of that era came to a premature end over the same issue that Virat Kohli is making a case for couple of years ago.

With 189 scalps in just 27 Tests at an average of 16, one can only imagine how many wickets would Sydney Barnes have collected had he played a little more. However, despite taking 49 wickets in a series against South Africa in 1914, a record that remains to this day, he opted out of the final Test of the series because his wife’s accommodation wasn’t paid for. And he never played again. Once cricket resumed in the post-war era, he was once again called to join the touring party travelling to Australia. But his demand to bring his wife along was declined. That’s how came to an end the career of one of the greatest bowler.

In this picture, another England cricketer, Tony Lock, is kissing his son and wife goodbye at Waterloo Station before leaving for England's 1956 tour of South Africa. Never the easiest moments for any person.