Xavier Doherty, the Australian cricketer who retired, was recently seen working as a carpenter and it continued the trend where many cricketers have taken up ‘odd jobs’ after their retirement.
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Xavier Doherty was a decent bowler in the Australian limited-overs set-up in 2010. Doherty had his moments in ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals, taking 55 and 60 wickets respectively. The left-arm orthodox bowler was also part of the 2015 ICC World Cup-winning squad in Australia. At the end of the 2016-17 Australian season, Doherty announced his retirement from competitive cricket.
However, a recent video has emerged of what Xavier Doherty is currently doing. The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) recently shared a video of Xavier Doherty in which he spoke about his new profession and explained how he ended up doing a carpentry apprenticeship.
“When I finished cricket, I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do. Then I spent the first 12 months once cricket finished doing everything and every opportunity that came my way. I did some landscaping, office work, cricket work and then found myself here,” Xavier Doherty said.
Xavier Doherty is not the first one to have taken up an ‘odd job’ after retirement. Here are other cricketers who have gone down a similar route in the past
Curtly Ambrose was one of the most feared West Indies bowlers of all time in the 80s and the 90s. In 98 Tests, he took 405 wickets and 225 wickets in 176 ODIs. His tall presence and athletic run-up made him a nightmarish proposition for batsmen. However, after a legendary cricketing career, Ambrose retired in 2000. After retirement, he became a musician.
Ambrose pursued his career in music. Ambrose takes the role of the bass guitarist in the band and Richardson is the rhythm guitarist of the band. The band is named ‘The big bad dread and the bald head’. They have performed at various events and spreading their musical charm.
Suraj Randiv is remembered for denying Virender Sehwag a century by deliberately bowling a no-ball. After retirement, Randiv migrated to Australia where he became a bus driver. Randiv, who was a part of Sri Lanka’s 2011 World Cup final and also in Chennai Super Kings, has become a bus driver in Australia to make ends meet after parting his ways with the sport. Randiv plays at the district level and represents Dandenong Cricket Club in Australia. Peter Siddle and James Pattinson have also played in the past.
Brad Williams was an opening bowler for Australia in 2003/04 when Glenn McGrath was injured. After injuries dogged his international career, he was sacked by Western Australia and he moved to Gold Coast. Williams became a professional builder and runs his own construction company. He calls it Willbuildit and attracts clients by giving them a chance to ‘build with a champion’. Williams even enrolled himself in a certification course from a TAFE institute nearby to learn drafting and other facets of building, including carpentry.
Yes, believe it or not, Captain Cool also has a business. India’s greatest captain has a farm in Ranchi. MS Dhoni’s aim is for people to buy organic vegetables at low prices. In view of this demand of the market, Dhoni started another retail counter a couple of years ago.
As soon as people came to know that Dhoni’s store of vegetables and milk is open, a large number of people has flocked to shop. With international cricket taking a backseat and with only 1-2 IPLs left in Dhoni, this is one of the business ventures for Dhoni.
Joginder is best remembered for bowling the final over in the ICC World T20 in 2007 against Pakistan. The right-arm pacer held his nerve and managed to defend 12 runs in the over as India won the inaugural World T20. However, a horrific accident that nearly cost him his life saw Joginder retire from international cricket. Joginder joined Haryana police and currently, he serves as the DSP in the Kurukshetra division. In 2020, his frontline work on duty during the coronavirus pandemic was praised.
Arshad Khan made his debut for Pakistan in 1997-98 against West Indies. In nine Tests and 58 ODIs, he picked up 32 and 56 wickets respectively. However, when he signed for the rebel Indian Cricket League, his international career was over. After his retirement, he migrated to Sydney where he became an Uber Cab driver.
Chris Cairns was one of the greatest all-rounders in the New Zealand team during the mid-90s and the early part of the millennium. Cairns clean-hitting and superb bowling saw New Zealand winning a series in England in 1999. He took 218 wickets in Tests and 201 wickets in ODIs. He had even smashed nine centuries.
However, he retired from international cricket after the end of the T20I against West Indies in 2006. In 2007/08, he played in the Indian Cricket League. There were perjury charges against Cairns in England. In 2014, he found a job of cleaning bus shelters in Auckland.
Blair Tickner is a 26-year-old pace bowler from Napier, Hawke’s Bay. However, Tickner revealed that he actually owns a coffee shop and he is good in making coffee. In an interview with stuff.co.nz, Tickner revealed that he owns the cafe for the last six months and previously ran two coffee carts in Aramoana in Central Hawke’s Bay in the cricket off-season.
New Zealand’s cricketers have often pursued jobs which have been totally different from their cricketing careers. Ewen Chatfield, who was Sir Richard Hadlee’s opening bowling partner, drives a taxi to earn a living. Bert Vance, who was a domestic stalwart, runs his own chain of clothing stores with the name Vance Vivian.
Andrew Jones, who was a solid middle order batsman for New Zealand in the 90s, co-owns a film company. Chris Harris, who was one of the best all-rounders from New Zealand, works as a medical representative. Nathan Astle, one of the best openers that the country, is a speedway race driver.
Salil Ankola, who was once part of the dominant Bombay Ranji team and also played for India, became a TV star. Currently, he is the chief selector in the Mumbai cricket team. Brett Schultz, who was a left-arm pacer from South Africa, is currently a financial analyst and is currently the Managing Director at Econorisk Broker Consultants.
