W.G. Grace: The Godfather of Cricket’s Evolution

In cricket, the term “Godfather” is attributed to several influential figures who have significantly shaped the game. One prominent individual for Godfather of Cricket is William Gilbert Grace, commonly known as W.G. Grace. Born in 1848, Grace’s cricket career spanned over three decades, during which he transformed cricket from a pastime into a national spectacle in England. He was a formidable batsman and a crafty bowler, amassing over 54,000 runs and taking more than 2,800 wickets in first-class cricket.

In the context of Indian cricket, former captain Sunil Gavaskar has been referred to as the “Godfather of Indian Cricket” by legendary West Indies cricketer Viv Richards. Gavaskar made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1971 and was widely admired for his technique against fast bowling. He became the first batter to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

Additionally, David English, a British charity fundraiser and cricketer, was often called the “Godfather of English Cricket.” He founded the Bunbury Cricket Club and was involved in the creation of the Bunbury Festival, a British under-15s cricket tournament that has helped the careers of over 1,000 first-class cricketers and over 125 international players.

These individuals have left an indelible mark on cricket, earning them the affectionate title of “Godfather” in various contexts.