New Delhi: Earlier this month, West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford received an unusual reward for his contribution in helping his team, the Montreal Tigers, win the 2023 Global T20 Canada cricket tournament. Apart from the customary trophy, Rutherford, who was named the ‘Player of the Tournament’, received half an acre of land in the United States.
Rutherford was given the recognition for his standout performance in the tournament, having helped record 48 runs against Brampton Wolves (BRW) in the eliminator and eventually powering his team’s five-wicket victory against the Surrey Jaguars in a thrilling final.
The West Indies all-rounder finished the season with 220 runs — making him the second-highest run scorer of the tournament— with an impressive strike rate of 130.17.
Offering a piece of land as a reward for exceptional performance breaks from the usual practice of giving out cash prizes. But this isn’t the first time a player has received a unique reward. Past hauls of cricketers, in fact, have included everything from rice cookers to snack hampers. While some of these ‘prizes’ may seem random, in many such cases, the largesse came from sponsoring companies.
Here’s a look at some of the more unusual prizes cricketers have received.
Electric blender for an ‘electrifying’ performance
No one was more surprised than English cricketer Luke Wright when, as a reward for his exceptional performance at the Dhaka Premier League in June 2016, he found himself to be owner of an electric blender. The former England all-rounder, who played for Abahani Ltd, received the blender for being the ‘Man of the Match’.
Walton, the company that manufactured the blender, was a sponsor of the tournament.
Later, the cricketer posted a photo of it on Twitter.
Pleased we won my first match 4 Abahani today. Have 2 say I have never been given a blender 4 getting MOM before! pic.twitter.com/BkiycrpJgu
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) October 31, 2013
‘Under pressure’ cooker
This is another one that comes from the Dhaka Premier League. In 2013, the former Irish and England cricketer who played for Gazi Tank Cricketers was given a rice-cooker after being named ‘Player of the Match’.
But the 2019 World Cup-winning captain took the prize in his stride, jokingly wondering if it symbolised his ability to perform under immense pressure, according to media reports.
Snack hampers for players
UK-based Sunshine Snacks Ltd, which is one of the major sponsors of the Caribbean Premier League, also has a unique way of rewarding players. Instead of offering the usual cash reward, it gives away snack hampers — presumably with a spread of chips, candies, and nuts — to players. Photos of players receiving these hampers have gone viral in the past, sparking conversations about whether it’s a healthy practice.
‘Biscuit’ trophy
Also making the list of unusual trophies is the TUC biscuit trophy — a trophy with a cheese cracker on top that sponsor TUC, a Belgian biscuit brand, gave away at the 3-match T20 series between Pakistan and Australia in 2018. Pakistan swept the series 3-0.
Mini-truck
The last entry to this list of unusual rewards was a mini-truck that went to India’s right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah at the end of India’s 2017 tour of Sri Lanka. The series concluded with a 5-0 ODI whitewash and Bumrah was awarded the truck after being named ‘Man of the Series’.
The prize reportedly amused his teammates immensely, with viral videos showing former Indian skipper M.S.Dhoni gleefully taking the wheels of Bumrah’s new pickup and driving the team around the field.
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