Top 10 Most Disappointing International Cricketers
A list of players I think could've and should've ended up with better careers than they did, mostly their own fault.If he were around today, this guy would be a T20 superstar, as he was one of the original pinch-hitters. Unfortunately, it was seemingly all he knew how to do and he failed far too often. Had he focussed less on scoring so quickly and more on playing a measured innings he could've been genuinely good.
Like Powell, he was known for being overly aggressive to a fault. Ended up a similar flash-in-the-pan and despite the early hype, his record doesn't stack up even by Bangladeshi standards.
A stylish, cool West Indian batsman who unfortunately ended up better known for his fielding and occasional spin bowling. Far too many ducks, but there were flashes of brilliance...on a rare occasion.
One of several openers who we tried and who failed to stick at international level in the late 90s and early 00s. He definitely had talent and some good moments, but never quite cemented down a spot at the international level.
Averaged 32 and 28 respectively in Tests and ODIs, which simply isn't good enough for a bloke with a top test score of 214 (one of two double tons!) and a top ODI score of 118.
A talented player capable of contributing runs to the England side but this highly-touted player is the poster child for unfulfilled promise. His ODI figures aren't too bad (nor was his part-time spin bowling), but the difference between his County cricket scores (136 centuries) and Test scores (6 centuries) is pretty staggering. Talented but highly uneven.
I always thought this batsman was going to be among Sri Lanka's greats. He was touted as a hot young prospect and he did have his moments. However, he was in and out of the national side and an ODI batting average under 30 isn't particularly impressive. A two-year ban for suspicious activities in a first-class were rather surprising, too.
One of the best pinch-hitters in cricket history, but his over-reliance on six-or-out tactics meant that his leg spin bowling stats have ended up a lot more impressive than his 'Boom Boom' batting. For such an obvious talent, he seemed content to just try to hit fours and sixes no matter the format he was playing nor the state of the match. He also didn't seem to know when to call it a day. Great fun to watch on his day though, even being an effective ODI opener at times. But his batting average should've and could've been a lot higher than 24.
An erratic figure on and off the pitch, Ryder's stats nonetheless are actually pretty decent for the all-rounder. Batting averages of 40 and 33 at Test and ODI level (the latter at a S/R above 90), and 34 with his medium pacers at ODI level being nothing to sneeze at either. Unfortunately, his ill-discipline off the field (and sadly, the victim of an assault later on in his career) pretty much saw fit that he'd play less than 50 ODIs and only 18 Test matches. But on his day, he was a lot of fun to watch out there on the field (If more Craig McMillan than Chris Cairns in terms of ability).
It kind of amazes me to this day that Ajit Agarkar was getting Kapil Dev comparisons early in his career. He just wasn't anywhere near consistent enough. He was a solid ODI bowler, if very mediocre at Test level. Despite one century, he never scored above 50 again at Test level. He also set a record for 7 consecutive Test ducks. Three 50s in 191 ODI batting innings tells you all you need to know there, too.