Knighthood is one of the highest honors bestowed upon individuals for their exceptional contributions in cricket. Only a select few have received this prestigious recognition. Over the years, several legendary cricketers have been knighted for their remarkable achievements and influence on the sport. Recently, former English pacer James Anderson became the latest entrant on the list. Check out the full list below.
Cricketers who have received knighthood
| Cricketer | Country | Year Knighted |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Donald Bradman | Australia | 1949 |
| Sir Garfield Sobers | West Indies | 1975 |
| Sir Vivian Richards | West Indies | 1999 |
| Sir Ian Botham | England | 2007 |
| Sir Curtly Ambrose | West Indies | 2014 |
| Sir Andy Roberts | West Indies | 2014 |
| Sir Geoffrey Boycott | England | 2019 |
| Sir Alastair Cook | England | 2019 |
| Sir Andrew Strauss | England | 2019 |
| Sir James Anderson | England | 2025 |
One of the earliest cricketers to be knighted was Sir Donald Bradman, widely regarded as the greatest batter in cricket history. He was knighted in 1949 for his services to the game. His incredible batting average of 99.94 remains unmatched.
The West Indies has produced several knighted cricketers, including Sir Garfield Sobers, who was honored in 1975 for his all-round brilliance. Sir Vivian Richards, known for his aggressive batting style, was knighted in 1999 for his contributions to cricket. Other West Indian legends, such as Sir Curtly Ambrose and Sir Andy Roberts, were knighted in 2014 for their impact on fast bowling.
England has also seen several of its cricketing greats receive knighthood. Sir Ian Botham, an Ashes hero and a tireless charity fundraiser, was knighted in 2007. Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Alastair Cook, and Sir Andrew Strauss were knighted in 2019 for their contributions to English cricket.
Most recently, Sir James Anderson was knighted in 2025, recognizing his outstanding career as England’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket
