Cricketers, who have had a good run in their career, have also ruffled many feathers owing to some startling revelations in their biographies. Here's a look at books by cricketers that kicked up a storm
Updated On: 2017-12-16 05:00 PM IST
Sachin Tendulkar: In Playing It My Way', Tendulkar is scathing in his criticism of Chappell who was the national coach from 2005 to 2007, describing him as a 'ringmaster who imposed his ideas on the players without showing any signs of being concerned about whether they felt comfortable or not. He also expressed disappointment over Kapil Dev's tenure as India coach as well as the role of selectors during his disastrous tenure as captain. Pic/ AFP
Sachin Tendulkar: In Playing It My Way', Tendulkar is scathing in his criticism of Chappell who was the national coach from 2005 to 2007, describing him as a 'ringmaster who imposed his ideas on the players without showing any signs of being concerned about whether they felt comfortable or not. He also expressed disappointment over Kapil Dev's tenure as India coach as well as the role of selectors during his disastrous tenure as captain. Pic/ AFP
John Wright: The former India cricket coach's candid account of his experience with the team, 'Indian Summers', did not go down well with everyone. In the book, Wright is forthrightly critical of the zonal' factor involved in selections. He also admits that he was in favour of Sourav Ganguly being replaced as captain toward the end of his stint. Pic/AFP
John Wright: The former India cricket coach's candid account of his experience with the team, 'Indian Summers', did not go down well with everyone. In the book, Wright is forthrightly critical of the zonal' factor involved in selections. He also admits that he was in favour of Sourav Ganguly being replaced as captain toward the end of his stint. Pic/AFP
Kevin Pietersen: In a no-holds-barred book 'KP: The Autobiography', Pietersen has blasted many bigwigs of English cricket, accusing the senior players of fostering a 'horrendous' bullying culture. In his book, KP said he'd been shocked by the way senior bowlers Graeme Swann (now retired), Stuart Broad and James Anderson as well as currently injured wicketkeeper Matt Prior abused fielders for dropping catches. He even hit out at former coach Andy Flower for ruling by fear'. Pic/ AFP
Kevin Pietersen: In a no-holds-barred book 'KP: The Autobiography', Pietersen has blasted many bigwigs of English cricket, accusing the senior players of fostering a 'horrendous' bullying culture. In his book, KP said he'd been shocked by the way senior bowlers Graeme Swann (now retired), Stuart Broad and James Anderson as well as currently injured wicketkeeper Matt Prior abused fielders for dropping catches. He even hit out at former coach Andy Flower for ruling by fear'. Pic/ AFP
Ricky Ponting: In his memoirs, The Close of Play', Ponting has questioned Sachin Tendulkar's role in the Monkeygate scandal, claiming that he was taken aback by the senior batsman's statement which saved Harbhajan Singh. Ponting says he didn't understand why Tendulkar vouched for Harbhajan during the appeal hearing but did not say anything when match referee Mike Procter initially suspended the spinner for passing allegedly racial comments at all-rounder Andrew Symonds. Punter also takes a dig at current Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, stating that the latter did not contribute as much as desired when he was the vice-captain. Pic/ AFP
Ricky Ponting: In his memoirs, The Close of Play', Ponting has questioned Sachin Tendulkar's role in the Monkeygate scandal, claiming that he was taken aback by the senior batsman's statement which saved Harbhajan Singh. Ponting says he didn't understand why Tendulkar vouched for Harbhajan during the appeal hearing but did not say anything when match referee Mike Procter initially suspended the spinner for passing allegedly racial comments at all-rounder Andrew Symonds. Punter also takes a dig at current Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, stating that the latter did not contribute as much as desired when he was the vice-captain. Pic/ AFP
Herschelle Gibbs: The former South African cricketer did not hesitate to reveal his wild side in this memoir To The Point'. Gibbs candidly admits that he enjoyed the company of more than one woman' while on tour Down Under. Among the anecdotes in the book, there is the story of a night Gibbs and a teammate spent with three women, a woman he called the 'Perth Stripper' and a student who brought 30 girlfriends to a party at the South African team hotel. Pic/ AFP
Herschelle Gibbs: The former South African cricketer did not hesitate to reveal his wild side in this memoir To The Point'. Gibbs candidly admits that he enjoyed the company of more than one woman' while on tour Down Under. Among the anecdotes in the book, there is the story of a night Gibbs and a teammate spent with three women, a woman he called the 'Perth Stripper' and a student who brought 30 girlfriends to a party at the South African team hotel. Pic/ AFP
Shoaib Akhtar: The mercurial former Pakistan pacer's book is aptly titled Controversially Yours'. In the book, he questions the class and temperament of India's batting stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. The temperamental former Pakistan speedster boasts that Tendulkar was scared to face his scorching pace on a slow Faisalabad track. He also claims that Tendulkar and Dravid were not match-winners nor did they know the art of finishing games
Shoaib Akhtar: The mercurial former Pakistan pacer's book is aptly titled Controversially Yours'. In the book, he questions the class and temperament of India's batting stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. The temperamental former Pakistan speedster boasts that Tendulkar was scared to face his scorching pace on a slow Faisalabad track. He also claims that Tendulkar and Dravid were not match-winners nor did they know the art of finishing games
Adam Gilchrist: Before Ponting, another former Aussie had questioned Tendulkar's integrity in connection with 'Monkeygate'. In his autobiography 'True Colours', the former wicket-keeper alleges that Tendulkar had initially told the hearing that he could not hear what was said, he was 'certain he was telling the truth' because he was 'a fair way away'. But during the appeal which followed, Tendulkar said that Harbhajan used a Hindi term that sounded like 'monkey' to Australian ears. Pic/AFP
Adam Gilchrist: Before Ponting, another former Aussie had questioned Tendulkar's integrity in connection with 'Monkeygate'. In his autobiography 'True Colours', the former wicket-keeper alleges that Tendulkar had initially told the hearing that he could not hear what was said, he was 'certain he was telling the truth' because he was 'a fair way away'. But during the appeal which followed, Tendulkar said that Harbhajan used a Hindi term that sounded like 'monkey' to Australian ears. Pic/AFP
Dennis Lillee: The former pacer made a highly controversial statement in his memoir Back To The Mark', which did not go down well with many. He wrote, ,I try to hit a batsman in the rib-cage when I bowl a bouncer, and I want it to hurt so much that batsman doesn't want to face me anymore.' Pic/ Getty Images
Dennis Lillee: The former pacer made a highly controversial statement in his memoir Back To The Mark', which did not go down well with many. He wrote, ,I try to hit a batsman in the rib-cage when I bowl a bouncer, and I want it to hurt so much that batsman doesn't want to face me anymore.' Pic/ Getty Images
Ian Botham: The England great raised a few eyebrows when he admitted to drug use in his book titled Head On'. In the biography, he has also spoken about various controversial topics like racism allegations, ball tampering, and the in-flight assault on another passenger. Pic/AFP
Ian Botham: The England great raised a few eyebrows when he admitted to drug use in his book titled Head On'. In the biography, he has also spoken about various controversial topics like racism allegations, ball tampering, and the in-flight assault on another passenger. Pic/AFP
Mike Hussey: In his autobiography Underneath The Southern Cross', Mr Cricket hit out at Tendulkar for not shaking hands after a match during India's 2007-08 tour Down Under. Writing about the incident, Hussey said, ,Perhaps Sachin wasn't a god, just another human like the rest of us.'