The life of a modern-day cricketer is lived under the camera. In addition to the intense scrutiny his or her cricketing skills are subjected to, the player is a walking advertisement. Here Sunrisers Hyderabad's David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Trent Boult and Kane Williamson talk about their life outside cricket, lives as style icons, idea of fashion and more.
Excerpts:
Question: How is the life of a professional cricketer away from the field?
David Warner (DW): It’s pretty good. In sense of... we get to do what we want sometimes. But when sponsor commitments come, it can be tiring. But it comes along with the job and we have to do that. It’s our responsibility as an international cricket player.
Shikhar Dhawan (SD): Every individual has his own personal liking. Some go for golf, some play guitar. Boulty [Trent Boult] likes to play the guitar...But off the field we still have to train a lot at the gym. I like to be with my family and hangout with teammates and have a good laugh.
How do you deal with the massive amounts of time you spend away from home?
Trent Boult (TB): It comes with the territory. You go to make sacrifices. You leave your girlfriends, wives and family behind.. But not everyone gets this opportunity [to play] and it’s exciting. It’s nice when they come on tour and enjoy. But yeah you have got to make sacrifices.
DW: Every time we go home it’s a holiday [laughs]
In that sense how important to switch off from cricket?
SD: It is very important to do that. We hardly get time these days. Every individual has his own way of doing that. Some spend time with their family. Like in the World Cup our families weren’t travelling with us. Now my family is with me. It’s the best of both worlds. I am enjoying my cricket and enjoying family life too.
Kane Williamson (KW): Extremely important. Sometimes you get two or three days between matches and may be a week between tours. You have to take that time to relax. It is a constant challenge. I think we are very fortunate to be doing things we loved as a child. But at the same time, when you do so much, it’s important to have time away and do other things. Having thatbalance is most important.
Growing up did you find any of the cricketers fashionable? Did you try copying appearances, mannerisms?
DW: I wouldn't say i copied anyone. They had like long T-shirts, button-up and sleeves rolled up. That wasn't probably my fashion but as a kid i would have to make do with what my parents could afford and those were normal T-shirts, Sloppy Joes and things like that. We didn't have any fashion. But today i try to be fashionable. I try and look at the male models at the stores, the way they pose and replicate that. Obviously it works for some and doesn’t for some. But i am willing to try.
SD: Whatever parents bought.... As a cricketer, I looked at players for their batting technique and not necessarily their dressing sense. But with time, it changed.
TB: I think Mr Shikhar Dhawan is the most fashionable cricketer in world cricket [everyone laughs]. If I was to copy anyone, it would be him.
KW: I think more so about the way some cricketers played. Like Sachin...very stylish. In terms of fashion, I keep it very simple.
Was there any particular sports kit you liked?
TB: For me its golf. I'd probably wear these pants to the golf course if I had to [points to what he is wearing]. I like the watches and the polo shirts which come in the PGA Tour.
SD: The kit i like to wear is the F1 kit. I’ll wear it in the winters.
DW: What a surgeon wears. I have always dreamt about being a surgeon.
KW: Yeah. Football kits… Barcelona shirt… It’s quite cool.
Which of your national team-mates spends the most amount of time in front of the mirror? Does he get teased for that?
DW: Steve Smith. Spends more time blow-drying his hair than getting ready.
SD: Its Jaddu… [Ravindra Jadeja]. Even for night matches he will wear zinc cream. Because he thinks because of light, skin gets affected [laughter all around].
TB: Tim Southee. He carries a separate bag just for the gel.
KW: Time Southee, Trent Boult, Corey Anderson.
What is your idea of fashion?
TB: Fashion is up to each individual. Some people pull off certain things better than the others. I have simple clothing and simple fashion ideas.
SD: Whatever gives you a good feeling, you should wear that. Then we can carry of nicely.
DW: To me it’s about the latest style, latest clothing, the latest hair-styles... just keep up with the trend. These days otherwise you get paid out. Especially as an Aussie [winks]
KW: I am one of those guys who get paid out for not having good fashion scene. I like Tommy Hilfiger [laughter]. Not a big part of my life to be honest.
(This story first appeared in The Hindu Metro Plus on April 14)
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