On the same weekend that Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket, a former Premier League winner was staking his claim as an all-rounder.
Ten years after helping Leicester City complete a 5000-1 fairytale run to the title, Austrian Christian Fuchs had a cricket debut to remember.
The 40-year-old took two wickets, contributed to a run out and blew a kiss to a bowler after smashing him for six into a river.
But while Stokes was saying his England goodbyes at Trent Bridge, Fuchs was saying hello at Bridge Field in Derbyshire, turning out for Grindleford in a Sunday friendly against Riverside Notts.
“The umpire said ‘go easy on him, it’s his first game’,” said 23-year-old delivery driver Hasan Mahmood, the Riverside Notts bowler who got away with two dot balls and a wide before being carted over the boundary.
Mahmood may have been told to go easy on Fuchs, but the Austrian took his chance when faced with a full toss and then jokingly blew a kiss at Mahmood.
“I didn’t mean to bowl a full toss to him. It just happened,” Mahmood told BBC Sport.
“Next thing you know, I get whacked for a six.”
“It ended up in the river next to the [ground]. I’m surprised he didn’t make me go and get it.”
