Guy Whittall: The Zimbabwean Cricketer Who Survived a Crocodile and a Leopard

Guy Whittall, the former Zimbabwean cricketer, has become known for his remarkable ability to survive life-threatening encounters. Whittall, who played for Zimbabwe from 1993 to 2003, gained notoriety in 2013 after sharing a room overnight with a large crocodile. The reptile, weighing approximately 165 kilograms, had somehow found its way beneath his bed. Whittall, unaware of the danger, slept with his legs hanging over the edge, only to discover the crocodile in the morning. More recently, Whittall survived a leopard attack during a jungle safari. The attack inflicted severe injuries, but he was saved by his loyal dog, which intervened. Whittall was airlifted to a hospital in Harare for medical treatment. In his cricketing career, Whittall played 46 Test matches and 147 One Day Internationals. He scored 2207 runs in Tests and 2705 runs in ODIs, including four centuries and 21 half-centuries. He also took 51 wickets in Tests and 88 wickets in ODIs. A highlight of his career was his century against Pakistan, which led to Zimbabwe’s first Test victory in 1995. He also scored a double century against New Zealand.