Cricketers Who Beat Cancer
Martin Crowe has been diagnosed with cancer. As he prepares to fight the illness, he can take heart from these stories of courage.
India's Yuvraj Singh, hero of the 2011 World Cup win, was diagnosed with a rare germ cell cancer in 2011. After initial doubts about the nature of his illness, Yuvraj travelled to the United States for his treatment. After some challenging bouts of chemotherapy during which he wondered if he'll live, let alone play again, Yuvraj made a full comeback to the Indian squad during the World Twenty20 this year.
In September 1991, South African batsman Dave Callaghan was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was detected early. Callaghan had to miss the 1992 World Cup as a result. After treatment, he played his comeback ODI in December 1994, scoring an unbeaten 169 (a South African record) and then taking 3-32 against New Zealand. Unfortunately, he would play only 11 more ODIs. In 2011, he celebrated 20 years of surviving cancer. He uses his celebrity status to spread cancer awareness.
Around 2000, Indian all-rounder Jai Prakash Yadav, 'JP' to everyone, found that he had a tumour above his heart. He underwent three cycles of chemo, lost 15 kilos, and was advised to not play cricket even if the tumour didn't recur. But the strong-willed JP started playing for Madhya Pradesh within a month of his third chemo cycle. He recovered fully to become a prolific player for Railways, scoring over 7,000 First Class runs and nearly 300 wickets. He made his India debut in 2002 and played 12 ODIs. He continues to play for Railways.
Ashley Noffke, who played for Australia three times in 2007-08, accidentally discovered he had skin cancer when he sough medical treatment for an injured hip. What looked like a harmless mole turned out to be Grade Three melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer. He had immediate surgery, recovered. In 2010, he retired from First Class cricket. He is now Western Australia's bowling coach.
Simon O'Donnell played in Australia's 1987 World Cup Final victory, but soon after he suffered severe pain that was diagnosed as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He staged a remarkable recovery and returned to the Australian One-Day team in the 1988–89 season.
Australia captain Michael Clarke had a cancer scare in 2005. Like Noffke after him, he had melanoma. Clarke spotted a growth on his nose that didn't go away. He had it checked. The test results shocked him. He described the ailment as "low grade skin cancer" caused by heavy exposure to the sun. Clarke didn't go public with his problem. But after recovery, he has been spreading cancer awareness. He has had three growths removed from his face. His advice: cover up and use plenty of sun-block.
Zimbabwe's finest batsman and now England coach, Andy Flower also had melanoma under his right eye. In 2011, he took a day off during the Gabba Test during the Ashes series for surgery. England team's security advisor Reg Dickinson brought up the possibility of cancer in a passing remark, leading Flower to get the growth immediately checked and treated. It saved Flower's life.
England great Geoff Boycott was diagnosed for throat cancer in 2002. He had four cancerous tumours close to his voice box. He underwent 35 sessions of radiotherapy to wipe out the tumours, a horrifically painful process. After a break from professional commentary, Boycott is back behind the mic. It wasn't easy
As Boycott told a newspaper about his fight with cancer: "It's tough. It's horrific. It's the sort of treatment that reduces strong men to tears. And it did me. Many a time. I was so full of morphine I kept falling asleep. And then, when I woke, the relentless pain was still there. But in the end there are just two of you in that match: you and the bloody cancer. I would count my treatments like I once counted my runs. I had to have 35 laser sessions. Just get to 18, I'd will myself, then you'll be on the home run. You have to be mentally strong to keep the crying and the depression at bay. And all the time, through all this pain and fog, there is this niggling question at the back of your mind. Will it work? But you have to be positive. Never, ever give in."
One of England's finest and most courageous, John Edrich (left) still holds the record for most fours in a Test innings. He struck 52 of them en route to an unbeaten 310 against New Zealand in 1965. In 2000, aged 63, he was told he had seven years to live after finding out he had a rare, incurable leukaemia. As this picture from 2011 shows, Edrich won that battle
Keith Miller, Australian all-rounder extraordinaire, is one of the finest players to have graced the game and was also a World War II pilot, now best remembered by his immortal quote on the pressures of playing cricket. "Pressure," he said. "I'll tell you what pressure is. Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your a***. Playing cricket is not."
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