For every professional and international cricketer, Cricket is not only a sport or professional duty but also a passion that motivates them to give their everything on a cricket field, and that's why they love playing this game. Undoubtedly, every player wants to take advantage of every opportunity to play a match, especially at the top of their game. But there have been some strange reasons why cricketers missed a match.
1. Jimmy Adams
Jimmy Adams is a former left-handed batsman from the West Indies. He played his first match against South Africa in 1992 and played 9 years for West Indies. Jimmy Addams has played many crucial innings for his team. In his career, he scored 3,012 runs in tests and 2,204 runs in ODI. But during 1998, when West Indies toured South Africa, Jimmy Addams missed out on the entire series due to small cuts by a butter knife. Because of the butter knife, Jimmy Addams's hand got slightly injured, and he required three stitches. Therefore, he had to miss out on the entire series.
2. Trevor Franklin
Trevor Franklin is a former opening right-handed batsman from New Zealand who played 21 tests in which Trevor scored only 821 runs with an average of 23. But he was out of Cricket for 18 months due to an incident. When New Zealand toured England, at London's Gatwick Airport, Trevor Franklin was mowed down by a motorized luggage trolley. Due to this, he had to suffer many fractures in his left leg, and that's why Franklin was out of Cricket for 2 years and even when Franklin returned, he was never able to play in his old form.
3. Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer is one of the world's most lethal and dangerous bowlers. Even though he faces many injuries, it cannot be neglected that Archer is a nightmare for many batters. Until now, he has also taken 42 wickets in tests and ODI. In the 2nd test against the West Indies, England dropped Jofra Archer from the team. During the Covid-19 pandemic attack, this was the first international series played between England and West Indies. Jofra Archer got dropped as he broke the team's biosecure protocol without permission; Jofra Archer went home to meet his family.
4. Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev is one of the greatest all-rounders and the most disciplined cricketers India has ever produced. Kapil Dev missed only 1 test out of 132 test matches that India played when he was in the team. The only test match Kapil Dev missed was in 1993, but not because of any injury. He missed a match due to a one-match handed to him after Kapil tried the spot too fast in the previous match. India lost the previous match because of Kapil's mistake, so team management gave him a one-match ban.
5. Mathew Hayden
Mathew Hayden is a former opening-aggressive left-handed batsman from Australia. Undoubtedly, he is one of the greatest batsmen in Australia. In test matches, Mathew Hayden has the highest individual score for Australia. During a Sheffield Shield match, he was suffering from his broken finger, and after that, when Hayden was jogging in the morning, a dog attacked him and tore a 5cm gash on his ankle. However, after missing a match, Mathew Hayden recovered in time for a match against England.
6. Jeff Thompson
Jeff Thompson is one of the fastest bowlers that the cricketing world has ever seen. Every batter used to fear him during his prime, and stats also prove it. In only 51 tests, Jeff Thompson has taken 200 wickets. During Ashes 1974-75, he destroyed England's batting lineup and the series was going fine for him. But in the 5th test match, Jeff Thompson injured his shoulder while playing tennis during the mid-rest day. Because of this injury, he missed the next matches as well.
7. Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson is one the finest fast bowlers that Australia has ever seen. In 2013, Mitchell Johnson and three other players were suspended by the coach, Micky Arthur, for not completing homework. For a 3rd test against India in 2013, Australia faced a humiliating defeat in the previous Hyderabad test. Australian Coach Micky Arthur asked the Australian squad to mail suggestions for improvement. But Mitchell Johnson could not complete the homework, so he had to miss the Mohali test against India.
8. Billy Midwinter
Billy Midwinter was one of the oldest players to play Cricket. He was a right-handed batsman from Australia who scored 269 runs in 12 matches. In a county match, Billy Midwinter was supposed to play for Gloucestershire, England, the country of his birth. Still, he chose to play for Australia as Australia was his adopted country. In Australia's tour game against Middlesex, the English Captain traveled to the stadium where Australia was playing, and he kidnapped Billy Midwinter to South London, where the English Captain forced Billy to play for Gloucestershire, England.
9. Aaron Finch
Aaron Finch is a former opening right-handed batsman from Australia. As a captain, Finch has won the 2021 T20 World Cup as well, and in his career, he has scored 5,406 runs in ODI and 3,120 runs in T20 internationals. In IPL 2017, Aaron Finch missed a match for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians as he lost his kit bag. Even though the entire team's kit bag reached safely at Wankhede Stadium, his kit bag got lost, and with no pads, gloves, or bats, Aaron Finch missed a match, and Jason Roy played in his place.
10. Sydney Barnes
Sydney Barnes was a right-arm fast-bowler of England. In 27 test matches, he scored only 242 runs and took 189 wickets. During the Ashes 1920-21, Sydney Barnes did go on the England tour of Australia as the MCC refused to pay for his wife and the child when he requested the MCC sponsor their trip.
