Cricket has always had its share of unusual moments, and some of these have occurred right in the players’ pockets. Whether it’s a mobile phone, a pebble, or even a sandwich, cricketers have often carried unexpected items while out in the middle of the game. A recent incident during a Lancashire match highlighted this quirky tradition when Tom Bailey’s mobile phone slipped from his pocket while batting, leading to some laughs and a stern warning from the ECB’s anti-corruption officer. However, this was just one of many peculiar items cricketers have hidden away in their whites over the years.
Fred Swarbrook, a Derbyshire left-arm spinner, famously carried a pebble for good luck. After struggling with the yips, a psychologist advised him to rub the stone before bowling, but it ultimately didn’t help, and Swarbrook was forced to retire. Meanwhile, Essex’s John Lever once had an orange in his pocket and threatened to bowl it at Ian Gould, claiming he could get him out with it (he didn’t). Jack Leach is also known for carrying a glasses cloth in his pocket, which became somewhat of a legend after his memorable one not out during the 2019 Headingley Test.
Some players have taken a more direct approach to inspire themselves during tough times. West Indian Denesh Ramdin, for example, took to carrying a scrap of paper in his pocket with the words “Yea Viv, Talk Nah” written on it. The note was a response to Sir Viv Richards’ criticism of his batting, but the West Indian legend didn’t seem to be affected by the gesture when Ramdin reached his century in 2012 at Edgbaston.
The bizarre items don’t stop there. Umpire Dickie Bird once had an interesting encounter with a pair of false teeth, given to him by players worried about the snowy conditions during a 1975 match. Later, in 2018, the infamous sandpaper scandal involving Cameron Bancroft unfolded when he was caught rubbing a piece of sandpaper on the ball during a match against South Africa. After the footage went viral, Bancroft hastily stuffed the sandpaper into his trousers, but the attempt to hide the evidence didn’t work. Along with Steve Smith and David Warner, Bancroft was banned from the tour, marking a dark chapter in cricket’s pocket history.
In 2013, South African captain Faf du Plessis faced controversy when he was accused of using the zipper on his trousers to tamper with the ball, an act that led to a fine and the eventual banning of zips on trousers by the ICC. This wasn’t an isolated incident, as du Plessis was also accused of rubbing sugar from a mint on the ball in 2016. While it’s unclear if he kept mints in his pocket, the story raised eyebrows, and other cricketers like Marcus Trescothick admitted to similar behavior during the 2005 Ashes series.
The use of handkerchiefs has been a quirky tradition for some players, with Steve Waugh famously never batting without his red handkerchief hanging out of his pocket. This handkerchief also had a second life when Waugh gave a piece to Marlon Samuels, who later celebrated a century by pulling out the same handkerchief to show the crowd. Other cricketers like Virender Sehwag and Mohinder Amarnath also favored colorful handkerchiefs. South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi took this a step further, performing a magic trick with his handkerchief during a Mzansi Super League match, turning it into a stick.
While these quirky items may seem strange, they reveal a fascinating side to cricket, where players bring personal objects onto the field to provide comfort, inspiration, or sometimes even a bit of mischief. Despite all the controversies and warnings from officials, these unusual items remain an integral part of the sport’s history.
