Martin Guptill, New Zealand's Happy Feet Batting Superhero
Martin Guptill almost gave up his cricket career when he was involved in an accident that saw three small toes from his left foot being amputated.
It's a tough act to score a double hundred in a one day international game. Even with the flat decks, new rules and big bats, one needs to be at the top of his game to slam two hundred runs in a 50-over game. (Guptill-Second Highest ODI Scorer)
Martin Guptill became the fifth batsman in cricket history to score an ODI double hundred. He carted West Indies to all parts of the ground and helped New Zealand secure a place in the semis of the cricket World Cup.
We all saw what a fantastic knock Guptill played but most of the cricket world perhaps wouldn't know that Guptill almost gave up cricket when he was a kid due to an unfortunate accident. At the age of 13, Guptill's left foot came under a fork-lift truck. As a result, three of his smaller toes were amputated to save his life. (Guptill Strikes it Big)
The Kiwi opener's father, Peter Guptill still recalls the incident with much horror, "When he was about 13, he had an accident at work. His foot was crushed with a fork hoist. They tried to repair it, in the end they had to amputate three toes." (Guptill Calm About Ease of Kiwi Win)
Guptill, later, himself confessed that it was the worst pain that he's ever felt in his life.
However, that didn't stop the Kiwi teenager.
"When he realised he could walk and do everything again he got right back into it, even harder than before. I think he realised in a flash everything could be lost so he's making the most if it", said his father, "It made him more determined."
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The near loss of life made Guptill work harder at his game and he did it with a sense of humour. Since his accident, he nicknamed himself as "Two Toes".
The nickname has stuck and this World Cup has proved yet again that no disability is big enough to stop anyone from achieving glory in life. All you need is strong determination and belief and that's exactly what sports is all about.
Cricket, over the years, have seen a Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi play with one eye, Brian Lara fight hepatitis, Muralitharan battle with a hyper-extended arm and now, there's a new name added to that list. With a record feat on "two toes" feet, Martin Guptill is the Kiwi edition of the Happy Feet.