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5 cricketers who are loved even by fans of rival teams

Go to any part of the globe, and if you see a random person getting mobbed at the airport or a shopping centre or any other public space for that matter, he/she is likely to be either a cine-actor or a sportsperson. Every action of a celebrity, both on and off the field, sells as a news story. And cricketers are no aliens to this.We all know that a successful cricketer from any nation is glorified as a hero in his homeland. But there are a few exceptional ones who become the blue eyed boys loved even by the rival teams and fans. In this feature, we pick out five of the most loved international cricketers, regardless of their origin, and see why they’re loved by one and all.Note: Only currently active players have been considered here.

#1 Dale Steyn

“Dale Steyn breathes fire!” is an often read headline. Put him on any condition – damp, dry, humid – or give him any turf to bowl on – slow, bouncy, flat – he’s going to give the batsmen a run for their money. Almost 6 feet tall, with a full round arm action and terrifying pace, Steyn has every ingredient to make him the world’s best quickie.

"There are not enough bowlers in the world who can bowl at 150 plus and still manage to swing the ball at the same time.” says Steyn’s former coach Ian Pont. 

This 31-year-old South African has 159 ODI scalps and 396 Test wickets under his belt. He has dominated the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings for several years and continues to do so till today. In an era where bats do most of the talking, Steyn is a go-to guy for any captain.

Steyn carries his panache on to the glamorous T20 format as well. IPL franchises consider it a privilege to have him in their side and he almost leaves the watchers in awe with his performances. 

That he is a stunning performer is what makes any aspiring bowler of this generation look at him as a role model. Regardless of which country he travels to, he mesmerises the fans and players of other teams who are spell-bound by his bowling skills. Anybody who appreciates the game to a decent extent does reserve special respect for this bloke.

And he often says that he loves to encourage young talent. Here’s one such video where he, along with other South African cricketers, visit an 11-year-old’s house to throw him a pleasant surprise.

As dangerous as he is with the ball, he’s quite the opposite off the field. Known for his benevolence, Steyn recently expressed his dismay at the bush-fire calamity that engulfed his native state. The tragedy happened while he was away in Australia for the World Cup, but he took to twitter to express his worries for the people back at home.

He was also quoted saying, “If I was at home I'd dive straight into it and do what I can to help. It really is terrible. A lot of animals, pets, homes, nobody should go through that kind of stuff. It's a pretty tough time back home right now,"

Such noble gestures separate great men from the ordinary, and perhaps that is why he’s here on our list.

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