These are the cricket heroes of the USA!
It might surprise you to learn that the United States of America (USA) participated in the first-ever international cricket match back in 1844. After several decades, cricket is gaining momentum in the USA, a sport that remains unfamiliar to many Americans. However, the gentleman's game is gradually making its mark in the USA with the launch of Major League Cricket (MLC) in 2023 and the country’s role as a co-host for the T20 World Cup in 2024. Throughout the USA's rich history, numerous players, both native and international, have been instrumental in the growth of cricket within the country. Here, we will spotlight five standout USA cricketers who are making waves with their remarkable performances.
Once dreaming of Indian cricket stardom, Saurabh Netravalkar's destiny took a different turn. Now, he’s the leading wicket-taker for the USA in limited-overs cricket. Born in Mumbai, Netravalkar shone in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup with 9 wickets in 6 games. Despite this, Indian domestic opportunities were scarce. In 2015, he paused cricket to pursue a master’s in computer engineering at Cornell University. After graduating, he joined Oracle and played recreational cricket on weekends. Eligible to represent the USA in 2018, he debuted against the Leeward Islands and captained the team from 2019 to 2021
Current USA skipper Monank Patel is among the top run-scorers for the team in limited-overs cricket. Born in Gujarat, India, Patel moved to New Jersey in 2014. In 2016, he opened a Chinese restaurant, but after two loss-making years, he shut it down. Turning to cricket in 2018, he made his List A debut for the USA. Rising through the ranks, he became captain in 2021 after Saurabh Netravalkar stepped down. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Patel led the USA to a stunning victory over a formidable team, scoring a match-winning half-century.
Steven Taylor, one of the few US-born cricketers to make a mark internationally, is known for his destructive batting. Representing the USA in age-level cricket, he displayed his power-hitting by scoring 140 off 120 against Papua New Guinea in the 2011 Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers. Taylor soon joined the senior side, achieving big scores in T20 and one-day matches, though consistency has eluded him. He also played first-class cricket for Jamaica in the Caribbean Islands. In recent years, Taylor has been an indispensable member of the USA team, delivering impactful performances.
Aaron Jones, another US-born player, began his professional cricket career with Barbados in 2016, playing a few first-class matches before joining the USA team in 2018. Jones quickly became the backbone of the USA's batting lineup, playing a crucial role in the team's achievement of ODI status in 2019. His batting style, infused with a Caribbean flair from his time playing alongside top West Indies players, has been a significant asset. This talent was on full display during the T20 World Cup 2024 opening match against Canada, where Jones blasted an unbeaten 94.
Ali Khan has been a globetrotter, playing for various franchises in T20 leagues worldwide, thanks to his impressive pace. This skill earned him a spot in the USA squad after being selected for the ICC Americas combined squad in 2016, which also brought him to the attention of the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League that same year. In 2020, Ali Khan became the first USA player to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when the Kolkata Knight Riders picked him as an injury replacement, though he couldn’t play due to injury. Despite his short stint with the USA, he has demonstrated his bowling talent, consistently taking wickets.
This time, Team USA has exceeded the expectations of the entire cricket world, with an introduction to their team. Next time, all five of them can be mega stars!
