Kmflett's Blog

Beard Liberation Front

5th June

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

Virat Kohli joins race for the Beard of the Cricket World Cup, the W G Grace Prize, poll

The Beard Liberation Front has said that the search for the Beard of the 2019 Cricket World Cup is underway.

The poll of well-known hirsute cricketers who are playing is now on-line

India play their first game on June 5^th and that sees Indian captain Virat Kohli enter the race

His beard is admired worldwide but perhaps particularly in India. A recent survey of hirsute men in Jaipur found one claiming:

“I have always wanted to have a beard like that of Indian cricketers, particularly Virat Kohli.

In the beginning was WG Grace but in the twentieth century cricket went to the barbers. So much so that by the early 1960s a major shaving company was sponsoring one day cricket and players deemed insufficiently clean shaven were sometimes sent from the field to sort it out.

In the twenty first century beards in cricket are back from Moeen to Hashim. Its now understood that a beard can have a psychological impact on opponents after Mike Brearley pioneered the point. Beards can also have an aero-dynamic impact on play itself.

Beards will play an important, perhaps vital, role in the World Cup. But who will have the winning whiskers?

Contenders could include Moeen Ali, Hashim Amla and Virat Kohli. Competition is expected to bristle as the competition goes on

However the Beard Liberation Front has said that to be eligible the beard must at least pass the Clint Eastwood post-stubble test & will ideally be more in the WG Grace beard zone

Pakistan’s Mohammed Hafeez has become the latest player to join the poll after a magnificent 84 against England at Trent Bridge

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, at the moment Moeen Ali is the player to beat but every game brings hairy moments for the contenders, and Virat Kohli could turn out to be the beard to shave for the others.