The world of cricket is renowned for producing action heroes and swashbuckling characters. Leicestershire County Cricket Club have had their fair share over the years and none more charismatic than wicketkeeper and present captain Paul Nixon - the badger.
Nixon has had two stints of his county career at Leicestershire, where he helped them to their two Championship titles in 1996 and 1998, before joining Kent from 2000 until 2002. He was a popular player at Canterbury and returned to Leicestershire in 2003, where he slotted straight back into the team ethos.
His role in Twenty20 cricket has been crucial and he is one of the best players of the reverse sweep in the county game, and possibly world cricket. Nixon's skills were a pivotal part of the two Twenty20 successes with the Foxes in 2004 and 2006.
Still an ultra-competitive and super fit player whose drive to be successful hasn't dimmed, Nixon was rewarded when he was drafted into the England one-day side in Australia in 2006-07 and did well enough to hold on to his place for the World Cup immediately afterwards, where he excelled with the bat. He also represented England in a T20 international, where he scored 31 not out against Australia in Sydney.
Nixon currently captains Leicestershire in all forms of cricket, and continues to score runs and keep wicket admirably, as well as lead the team with a will-to-win attitude that is second to none.
