5 Cricketers who took up unexpected careers after retirement

Despite cricket's well-known reputation as a gentleman's game, a number of its players have gone on to pursue other jobs after retiring. Although the majority have continued to be involved in the sport in one way or another as administrators, coaches, or commentators, several cricket players have chosen completely different paths for themselves, proving that they were adaptable and capable of changing their ways. 

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This article explores the experiences of five such cricket players who were drawn away from the cricket field and pursued intriguing, unconventional jobs after retiring.

1. David Sheppard as Bishop

David Sheppard played county cricket for Sussex. He scored three centuries while playing for England in 22 Test matches. Sheppard had an incredible first-class career, playing in 230 games and scoring up to 45 centuries. After the war, he was considered by many to be among the top county cricket batsmen.

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After his tenure ended, he became one of the most outspoken bishops in the Church of England. Sheppard fought cancer for a long time before passing away in 2005.

2. Curtly Ambrose as Bass Guitarist

In the 1990s, Curtly Ambrose and his countryman Courtney Walsh were an unstoppable force of nature. The lethal combination of Ambrose and Walsh helped the West Indies win some memorable matches thanks to their scorching bowling performances, even if the squad had a mediocre batting lineup at the time.

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During his cricket career, Ambrose took 405 wickets at an average of 20.99 in 98 Test matches. In 176 games for the West Indies, he also claimed 225 ODI wickets. Ambrose became a bass guitarist for the Antiguan reggae band "Dread and The Baldhead" after retiring in 2000.

3. Arshad Khan as a Cab Driver

For a respectable amount of time, the men in Green were served by Arshad Khan, a right-arm off-break bowler. Arshad was initially selected to play against the West Indies for Pakistan in the 1997–98 season. Arshad had a wonderful career until 2001, when he was dropped and had to return to domestic cricket.

The selectors included Arshad in the playing 11 for the 2005 One Day series against England, and he quickly established himself as one of the team's most economical bowlers. Arshad, though, was not a consistent member of the Pakistani team. After retiring, Arshad moved to Australia and started working as a taxi driver.

4. Chris Lewis as Smuggler

Though his career did not take off, all-rounder Chris Lewis was once referred to as the next Ian Botham. Lewis took 93 wickets in 32 Test matches for England, including three 5-wicket hauls. On his birthday in 1993, he scored his lone century in Chennai against India. He was impressed with the century, but he failed to build on the success and played his final Test match against Pakistan on August 26, 1996. 

Lewis shocked the cricket community in 2009 when he was found guilty of carrying liquid cocaine worth over £140,000 in his cricket bags and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He now advises the younger generation on how to stay clear of the game's traps.

5. Chris Old as Fish & Chips Shop Owner

From the early 1970s through the 1980s, Chris Old, a right-arm fast medium bowler, was a well-known member of the English bowling attack. Old scored 50 runs in both innings and helped with the bat throughout the match against India, taking six wickets. However, India won by 28 runs, and England ended up losing. 

Following his retirement, Old and his wife Letita operated a fish and chip restaurant on Praa Sands in Cornwall. In the 1981 Ashes, he and Ian Botham shared a 67-run partnership for the ninth wicket and claimed the vital wicket of Alan Border, marking his most noteworthy contribution to the English team.

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