Madsen — WCs in different sports 20 years apart

When Wayne Madsen covers the blades of grass at the Eden Gardens and strolls in to face Scotland in the T20 World Cup fixture in Kolkata on February 9, he will inscribe his name in sports history books for more than one reason.

The obvious being Madsen having the “honour” of leading Italy in its first cricket World Cup match. But what may make many rub their eyes in astonishment is the 42-year-old’s entry into an elite club. He will join a select list of athletes who have featured in World Cups in two different sports; in Madsen’s curious case, it is for different nations.

Back in 2006, Madsen played in the hockey World Cup for South Africa, the country of his birth. Twenty years on, he will hold a cricket bat instead of a hockey stick on the global stage when donning Italy’s blue in the T20 showpiece.

“I am really proud that I have been able to represent my countries in two different sports. I am extremely proud to play two sports at two World Cups 20 years apart. It is a pretty unique situation and I am honoured to have done it,” Madsen said in an interview to Derbyshire, the county he represents in English cricket.

Those with an Indian connection may remember the multi-faceted M.J. Gopalan turning out for the nation in both cricket and hockey.

As for Madsen, he locked horns with Dilip Tirkey, India’s most-capped player and current Hockey India president, during the Monchengladbach WC in Germany.

“Hockey (playing it) seems like a long time ago, but I do have such fond memories of it. The opportunity to play international hockey at a World Cup… the crowds that we had. They obviously stood me in good stead going into my cricket career,” added the veteran.

Madsen, who qualified as an Italian citizen by descent, is still “pinching” himself while processing what has been bestowed on him ahead of the T20 World Cup. “I had not even dreamt of going to the World Cup (cricket),” he said. History awaits him in the City of Joy.