Hollioake turns to rugby

By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport

Hollioake is having to get used to a different-shaped ball

While some cricketers may be tempted to give their bodies a rest during the off-season, Adam Hollioake clearly belongs to a different breed.

The Surrey cricketer has recently taken to club rugby, joining local team Warlingham for the remainder of the current playing season, or until pre-season training at The Oval.

Warlingham are struggling in division one of the Surrey league.

And Hollioake has already made one appearance at inside centre for them in their battle to steer clear of relegation.

Clearly a glutton for physical exercise, he has only recently completed an epic charity journey from Edinburgh to Tangiers to raise money for his late brother Ben's Trust Fund.

He lost two stone during this event, but has since had to put the weight back on.

Hollioake made his debut on 10 January in the home tie against the Law Society.

Cricketers who have temporarily exchanged the small round leather ball for the larger oval one include Allan Lamb.

Ian Botham appearing for Scunthorpe United in 1980

The South African-born England batsman was also a centre, regularly appearing for Guildford & Godalming A XV during the cricket close season in the early 1980s.

And over in New Zealand, Jeff Wilson played four one-day internationals in 1994 before embarking on a hugely successful career for the All Blacks, in which he scored a record 44 tries in 60 Tests.

Liam Botham played three matches for Hampshire in 1996 before settling on a career in rugby, but the more usual alternative sporting pastime for cricketers is football.

Liam's father Ian, of course, was good enough to play professionally, albeit for Scunthorpe United.

And turning the clock a bit further back, a whole host of England cricketers playing football spring to mind.

Brian Close and David Bairstow both combined duties at Yorkshire with brief spells at Bradford City.

And Denis Compton famously turned out for Arsenal in the 1950 FA Cup final.

Compton's Middlesex colleague Bill Edrich, however, played for the Gunners' arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Two famous English strikers, Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker, were also handy at cricket.

Hurst played for Essex, while Lineker, appearing for the MCC against Germany, scored a run and then quipped: "It's nice to score one against the Germans."