Five best mustached cricketers of all time

The seventies and eighties saw the emergence of fast bowling as the dominant force in world cricket. Charging in like crazed bulls, exponents of this art would trouble batsmen all over the world with nasty snorters, and revel in their eventual demise.

But the same era also gave rise to something else – a distinctive style that set these players apart from ordinary mortals. The mustache made its grand entry, and quickly became a symbol of unbridled machismo, underlining masculinity. Dennis Lillee wore it, and so did England’s legendary all-rounder Ian Botham.

The handlebar style re-emerged a year ago with the arrival of India’s Shikhar Dhawan to international cricket, and even his teammate Ravindra Jadeja sported the same. Whether it will catch on in the rest of the world remains to be seen.

Here is a look at the five best mustached cricketers of all time:

5. Kapil Dev – India

The Haryana Hurricane’s beaming face after taking a wicket or hitting the winning runs brought the fans’ attention to his well-styled mustache. His out-swingers were deadly, but the hairy extension over his lips was enough to make anyone sit up and take notice.

Unlike some of his contemporaries, Kapil never shaved his mustache at the end of his playing career. He was the first star Indian cricketer to promote shaving cream with his trademark ‘Palmolive da jawab nahi’. The presence of the mustache only served to amplify his big smile and jovial nature.