As this year's Ashes get underway we are wont to reflect on its history. So many things make cricket the pasttime it is -- white trousers, tea, rain delays and those long snakes of empty beer glasses passed around at test matches. But most of all, it's the beards.
From W.G. Grace's iconic full-growth, to Monty Panesar's recent fan favourite, from the masterful beards of the Indian sub-continent to the designer stubble of Freddie Flintoff, beards make cricket players the fashion icons they are.
Of course while Indian cricket has produced its fair share of facial hair glory, cricket is an international game and great beards have come from every cricketing nation.
As this summer's cricket gets underway, we celebrate the game's top 20 facial hair victories.
(Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments.)
Greatest Cricket Beards
W.G. Grace (England)
W.G. Grace averaged 60 to 70 runs per innings in the 1870s and in doing so turned cricket into a spectator sport. But while we're sure his batting and bowling was impressive on those rough nineteenth century pitches, we still think his beard was the major draw for the crowds.
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
It might just be the mid-bowl angle, but Murali's goatee looks a little off balance here. Still, the man has taken more international test match wickets than anyone else in the game. So you might want to let him off.
Getty Images.
Hashim Amla (South Africa)
Amla became the first South African player of Indian descent to play in a test match back in 2004. His form didn't match his facial hair initially, but he recently scored 159 against India -- so maybe its powers are starting to take effect.
AP.
Mike Brearley (England)
Former England captain Mike Brearley usually went clean shaven, but purposefully grew a thick black beard for a three-test tour of Australia in 1979 so that he could intimidate the opposition.
Sadly it backfired, and after widespread mocking throughout the test England went down 3-0.
Still, the beard was great. And in the end, isn't that the real victory?
Getty Images.
Ian Botham (England)
Beefy Botham was one of England's greatest all-rounders, with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in test cricket.
Mostly a moustache man, Botham also flirted with the beard. and while not as thick as that of some of his team-mates (see Mike Brearley) it was always neat and closely clipped.
Getty Images.
Inzamam ul Haq (Pakistan)
One of the great all-time Pakistani cricketers, and one of the great all-time Pakistani beards. Thick, lustrous and wild.
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Wasim Raja (Pakistan)
Raja score more than 2800 test runs over 57 international test matches in the 1970s and 80s, before he died from a heart attack while playing for the Surrey over-50s side in 2006.
Getty Images.
Saeed Anwar (Pakistan)
In 1997 Anwar scored 194 runs in a One Day International, more than anyone ever has. His beard was never happier.
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Merv Hughes (Australia)
At 6 foot 4 inches and with a burly walrus moustache/beard combo, Hughes was a right-arm fast bowler with a fearsome reputation. That's why it's such a shame he took this photograph, which makes him look a bit like a member of the village people.
Getty Images.
Andy Roberts (West Indies)
Roberts was the first Antiguan to play for the West Indies, opening the door for many fine players including the legendary Viv Richards. His beard, bold and finely structured, was good too.
Getty Images.
