London, May 28 (ANI): Former England cricketer Adam Hollioake has revealed that his friends and family were surprised when he chose the gentleman's game over rugby and boxing as his profession.

The 40-year-old had started boxing when he was 12 years old, but later in his life he moved towards cricket.

People who know me were really surprised when I went into cricket because I led such a physical life playing rugby and boxing when I was growing up, Sky News quoted Hollioake as saying.

I think those people say 'Wow, it's taken you a long time to do that,' but for people who don't know me, it must seem the strangest thing in the world, he added.

The former England captain retired from professional cricket in 2004 but has now returned to boxing and is now taking part in mixed martial arts, or cage fighting. (ANI)