Cricket has seen some extremely volatile cricketers who have temper problems. It has led them to tough situations where they have faced bans. However, there have been some cricketers who have mended ways and turned into better, and more focussed cricketers. And then there are others who have been the same throughout their careers. Cricwizz makes the best playing XI of most volatile cricket players with temper issues.
Openers - Gautam Gambhir and David Warner
Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir is the highest scorer for India in two World Cup-winning finals. However, he is also known for his fiery attitude and temper problem. He has had a series of verbal duels with opposition players. He had once elbowed Australian Shane Watson during a run in a Test match, and was found guilty of it, and was handed a one-match ban. His duel with Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi during an ODI is all over the internet. He also had a spat with Indian players such as Virat Kohli during an IPL game.
David Warner
Warner too has had been volatile with his attitude, and let his temper get the better of him. But over the past few seasons, he has mellowed down, and become calmer. Earlier, his verbal duel with Umesh Yadav after the latter dismissed the Australian on a no-ball during a Test match is well-known. Another interesting incident involving Warner is the verbal fight he has had with South African Quinton de Kock in the mid-tunnel during the Test series in 2018. A video of their fight was leaked online.
Middle-order
Virat Kohli (captain)
Kohli has worn his attitude on his sleeve. But it has landed him into trouble a few times. His verbal duel with opposition players such as Ben Stokes, and most recently, with James Anderson has been the talk of the town. He once blasted a journalist for writing a report on his personal life involving his then-girlfriend and now wife, Anushka Sharma, but later apologized for mistaking the scribe. So, Kohli gets to lead this XI of volatile players.
Marlon Samuels
Samuels is an important member of this XI. He has always spoken against Shane Warne, who has always questioned the West Indian on his skills, temperament, and performance. Warne and Samuels were once engaged in a heated duel during a Big Bash League match in 2013. So, when Samuels guided West Indies to a memorable World T20 triumph in 2016, he had hit out at Warne. Later, he put his legs on top of the table during a press conference to show who is the boss. But it didn’t go down well with critics and fans.
All-rounders - Ben Stokes, Shakib Al Hasan, Kieron Pollard
Ben Stokes
Stokes is a talented all-rounder, but he has been in news most often for the wrong reasons. He was embroiled in controversy during a bar brawl in Bristol in 2017. His duel with opposition players, such as Virat Kohli, has always made headlines. He has now evolved and let his performance do all the talking. The World Cup final win in 2019 and the Headingley Test win by 1 wicket in 2019 are all known for Stokes’ performance with the bat.
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib has a history of spats with players, and even with umpires. He was recently handed a few matches ban after violently showing his displeasure against the umpire’s verdict. He kicked the stumps in anger, and later, he threw all the stumps down. Shakib gets to be the vice-captain of this XI, as there is no other better competitor for this role.
Kieron Pollard
The West Indian is known for his T20 skills. But he has a temper problem as well. During an IPL game, when Mitchell Starc of RCB tried to get under his skin, Pollard responded by throwing a bat at the Aussie and threatened him. The umpires have to intervene to calm Pollard down. It wasn’t a great sportsman’s spirit, but it definitely put Pollard in this best XI of most volatile players.
Mushfiqur Rahim - keeper
The Bangladesh keeper-batsman is also prone to losing his temper and getting himself into trouble. He recently had a brawl with his teammate Nasum Ahmed in Bangabandhu T20 Cup. Playing for Beximco Dhaka, Rahim ran towards the gully to complete a catch. However, Rahim collided with Ahmed at Gully, and raised his hand to hit him, but stopped short of doing so, making it fodder for tweets, and posts on social media.
Spinner - Shane Warne
Warne has had a history of rubbing players the wrong way. His famous duel with West Indian Marlon Samuels during the Big Bash League 2013, and his various spats with English players during the Ashes series serve as great anecdotes. Warne and Samuels get a chance in this XI, thanks to their volatile nature.
Pace bowlers - S Sreesanth and James Anderson
S Sreesanth
Sreesanth was a talented bowler, but inconsistency and then alleged match-fixing saw him losing a promising cricketing career. He was part of two World Cup-winning finals for India and was part of the historic Durban Test win against South Africa in 2016. But he is also known for “inciting” Harbhajan Singh to slap him in an IPL match, and a war of words with Andre Nel in the Durban Test.
James Anderson
Being the leading wicket-taker of England is no joke, and James Anderson enjoys the role of being the frontline bowler in his late 30s. He has also been guilty of losing his temper and bullying opposition players. His remarks against Jasprit Bumrah for allegedly bowling fast to him to hurt him motivated Indian players to beat England at Lord’s. Earlier, he has had trouble with Ravindra Jadeja in a Test series.
Best XI of most volatile players:
Gautam Gambhir, David Warner, Virat Kohli (captain), Marlon Samuels, Ben Stokes, Shakib Al-Hasan, Kieron Pollard, Mushfiqur Rahim (keeper), Shane Warne, S Sreesanth, James Anderson
