Golden Baldies - Cricket’s Dream Bald XI

A team made up of the best players in world cricket today who can’t afford to be splitting hairs (as they don’t have many left)! Their lack of hair hasn’t affected their cricketing ability however, and some of these players are up there with the best in the world, not just in terms of forehead size. This team only includes players that are BAP (Bald and Proud), any cricketers with hair transplants or hairpieces have not been considered for selection. So, without further ado, here is the full run down of the dream bald team in world cricket right now:

1)  Adam Lyth

 Nicknamed ‘peanut’, Lyth is a highly talented left-handed batsman who came through the Yorkshire ranks alongside none other than England captain Joe Root. Despite his England career failing to take off, he has enjoyed vast amount of success in domestic cricket, and his career highlights include scoring 161 off just 73 balls in the T20 blast, the third highest score in the format of all time.

2)Hashim Amla (c)

One of the best opening batsmen ever to play the game, his flowing beard and hairless head are almost as iconic as his flick through midwicket and gorgeous cover drive. His calmness and composure alongside his exceptional batting across all three formats of the game have turned him into a cricketing legend. Despite his retirement from international cricket last year, he continues to play domestic cricket, meaning fans are still able to admire his delightful stroke play and more importantly, he was able to be selected for this side.

3) Chris Lynn

The leading run-getter of all time in Australian T20 competition the Big Bash, Chris Lynn is one of the biggest names in the white ball circuit worldwide. His ability to send the ball into the second tier of even the largest cricket stadiums has earnt him call ups in numerous T20 franchises including the Indian Premier League (IPL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), as well as selection for his country. Nicknamed ‘Lynnsanity’, his batting most certainly lives up to his pet name and when on song he is able to score runs for fun. It isn’t just his destructive batting that has been in the headlines, his bald pate has too after steam appeared to be coming off of it during a PSL match.

4)  Ben Dunk (wk)

The second bald Queenslander to make the list along with Chris Lynn, the pair were likened to WWE wrestlers when playing together in the latest edition of the PSL. A man that can fulfil almost any role in cricket, Ben Dunk has proved himself as a sound presence behind the stumps, a hard-hitting batsman and also as a handy part-time off spinner. Cricket has taken him all across the world; he has displayed his skills in T20 competitions in the likes of Pakistan, the Caribbean, Australia and India.

5)  Daniel Bell Drummond

A young allrounder with bags of promise, he burst onto the scene after scoring a 92 ball hundred against none other than Australia in a warmup game ahead of the 2015 Ashes. His stats make for very pleasant reading: a bowling average of 24 in both List A and First Class cricket and a batting average of 42 in List A and 33 in First Class cricket. His ex-captain, former England international Rob Key, said that he has ‘the talent to play 100 test matches’. We are yet to see Bell Drummond in an England jersey, but you feel that an international call up for the 26 year old has to be on the cards.

6)  Dilbar Hussain

A Pakistani born all-rounder whose CV includes representing the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash and Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, Hussain also sports an impressive beard and a hairless head.

7)  Ashton Agar

Ashton Agar is a talented left arm spinner who perhaps would’ve played more international matches for Australia if it wasn’t for the brilliance of his fellow Bald XI spinner Nathan Lyon. Strong with either bat or ball in hand, Agar has been especially promising in the shorter formats, his bowling average in T20 international cricket is an impressive 21.28 and he has won the Big Bash with Perth Scorchers.

8)  The GOAT

For any cricket fans who have been living under a rock, Nathan Lyon has earned the nickname the GOAT (Greatest Off spinner of all time) through a number of stellar performances in the baggy green. Perhaps the most famous player in this side, the Sydney spinner has picked up over 400 hundred international wickets and has also frustrated sides with his determined tail end batting. Just the sight of his face will be enough to give some batsmen nightmares (I’m looking at you Moeen Ali). Unlike his fellow Australian spinner, Shane Warne, he has shown no desire to get his hair back.

9)  Jack Leach

Back in the days when Leach had hair!

Jack Leach rose to fame after his hand in England’s famous victory against Australia at Headingly. Despite being primarily a left arm spinner, his stubborn tail end batting, bald head and glasses wiping have probably created more headlines than his bowling. That’s not to say his skills with ball in hand should be overlooked however, he has picked up his England test wickets at a solid 29.02 runs apiece. Hailing from Somerset and rising through the county’s ranks as a youngster alongside Jos Buttler, the two couldn’t be more different in terms of their cricketing roles, but Leach has impressed with his batting on occasion, his highest score being 92 against the Irish.

10)                 Chris Rushworth

In 2006, Chris Rushworth was working in a call centre, wondering if he would ever play professional cricket again. Fast forward to 2020, and Rushworth has become one of the most decorated and respected bowlers in the County Championship. Despite not being the quickest bowler around, his tenacity, accuracy and swing have turned him into an excellent pacer. With a bowling average of 22.8 and economy of 2.98, he could perhaps consider himself unlucky to have not earned a call up for his country.

11)                 Tymal Mills

Tymal Mills whizzed onto the scene in 2011, quite literally, after he was caught bowling at speeds over 145 kmph for Essex in the County Championship in a televised game. Perhaps what’s most amazing about his career is not his ability to bowl at incredibly high speeds, but his recovery from a potentially job-ending congenital back problem in 2015. This blow has consigned him to playing short format cricket, but since his diagnosis with the condition he has gone on to play in the IPL, PSL and for his nation.

The Coach – Darren Lehman

A skilled opening batsman and handy spinner in his playing days, Darren Lehman is now one of the biggest names in cricket coaching. His straightforward approach to coaching and widespread popularity in the cricketing world have helped him to become the man in charge of numerous teams over the years including Brisbane Heat, Queensland, Deccan Chargers and also Australia. Sadly, Lehman will also be remembered for being head coach of the Australia team that tampered with the ball in Cape Town. On a personal note, he earnt the nickname ‘Boof’ due to his shiny scalp, partiality to a Benson and Hedges and a cold beer.

Stay tuned for a match report and video of a virtual game featuring this ‘Baldies’ side vs the England Cricket Team on the videogame Cricket 19.