Some of the best celebrations by bowlers in cricket

The Express Tribune goes through decades to find the best ten celebrations by bowlers in cricket

Cricket is an unpredictable game, to say the least. In some instances the match remains undecided till the very last ball of the final over. This uncertainty which characterizes the sport makes it all the more thrilling for the fans and players; their passionate celebrations depicting the intensity which underlies the sport.

Some of these celebrations remain engraved in our minds due to their sudden outburst and their uniqueness. Eventually a few of these get affiliated with certain individuals. Here The Express Tribune recount some unique styles of celebration in cricket by bowlers which have entertained us.

1. The Jet, Shoaib Akhtar

PHOTO: AFP

Shoaib Akhtar is another player who has his own trademark style of celebration. The first bowler to break the 100 mile an hour barrier, Akhtar’s style to commemorate each wicket was to run down the pitch, arms raised at the side like an aeroplane. The pacer looked magnificent; the joy of his recent triumph etched across his face as he glided down the pitch, swaying right to left as he made his way towards his teammates.

2. Mr.X, Shahid Afridi

PHOTO: AFP

Shahid Afridi’s trademark arms-raised-fingers-pointing-towards-the-sky-feet-apart celebration is perhaps one of the things Pakistani fans look forward to the most in a match, aside from Afridi’s occasional swashbuckling innings.

3.  Smiling devil, Glenn McGrath

PHOTO: AFP

Australia also has its fair share of unorthodox celebrators. Glenn McGrath was the man who always smiled while on the pitch; his curved lips being an indication that McGrath had guessed which wicket he would take. Thus, smiling after the deed was done seemed like a mere formality for him.

4. The Assailant, Brett Lee

Brett Lee’s style somewhat looked like a starting a chainsaw as he would bend one knee and punch the air furiously as if he was trying to turn it on - and surely he turned it on for the fans with his ecstatic celebration.



Another one of his famous celebration is clapping his feat while airborne.

PHOTO: AFP

5. The Loud One, Wasim Akram

PHOTO: Online

Pakistan’s Wasim Akram had one hell of an ecstatic celebration too. He commemorated his wickets usually by raising one arm in the air and running towards the wicketkeeper to celebrate. In 1992 World Cup final, however Wasim celebrated the wickets of England’s Allan Lamb and Chris by raising both his arms, clenching his fists tightly and shouting with joy while running madly towards the keeper.

6. The Pumped Up, Waqar Younis

PHOTO: SPORTKEEDA

The other half of the magical Pakistan duo, Waqar Younis’s style was to fist-pump and skip after sending a player back to the dressing room.

7. The Bullseye, Muttiah Muralitharan

PHOTO: AFP

Sri Lanka spin maestro, Muttiah Muralitharan, was the man with the most animated eyes in cricket. His eyes would open to an unnatural degree while bowling and after taking a wicket, they would somehow expand even more.

8. The Joker, Cory Collimore

PHOTO: AFP

Another country which has produced a series of players who have their trademark celebrations is West Indies. West Indian Cory Collimore had a habit to celebrate by pretending to rock a baby after taking a wicket. On rattling a batsman's stump, he would pull three fingers from his hands and waved them in front of his face symbolizing the damage he had done to the woodwork.

9. The Silent Killer of Wicket, Curtly Ambrose

PHOTO: ESPNCRICINFO

One of the bowling legends for West Indies, Curtly Ambrose, would lead his hands in to a furious hand-jive after taking a wicket. Another style of celebration which Ambrose adopted was to raise his arm high after taking a wicket, asking his teammates to high-five him on the achievement. The most amusing aspect of this celebration could be witnessed when  5' 4" feet tall West Indian wicketkeeper David Williams would rush to slap the raised arm of the 6 feet 7 inches Ambrose.

You might be able to guess who else imitated Ambrose? Yes, Muhammad Irfan from Pakistan when he would raise his hand for Ahmed Shahzad or Umar Akmal to jump and congratulate him with a high-five.

10. The Hulk, Dale Steyn

PHOTO: AFP

South African pace-head, Dale Steyn, is one of the contemporary giants of economical-cum-fiery bowlers. His prowling start-up to run in and deliver bullets fired at nearly 140kmph with a stern look on his face has been a trademark of his exuberance on the pitch. But, his even more elated celebration after bagging a wicket; screaming with every muscle of his body contracted and oozing with energy has been even more sweeter. It feels like he is stopping the monster inside him from coming out.