Cricketers who underachieved

[Rana]

The Wasted Talents/ Under Achievers thread

Which players do you think had the talent to run riot in cricket, but either wasted their own talent or their boards wasted? Who could have been a legend but instead is a nobody, who is big but should have been bigger? my take....

Andrew Flintoff
Will be remebered as one of England's best players, best all-rounder and a fine talent. But retiring at 31, certainly does not do justice to the gift God had given him. Plagued with injury, Andrew Flintoff should have done better than just 2 Ashes home wins in his career. He was very much capable of being a key member for England to propel in One Day cricket. Such a fine fast bowler, brilliant hitter and bucket hand fielder. Certainly retired too early.

Azhar Mahmood
A very good all-rounder. Very handy with the bat and a decent bowler. He certainly could have achieved what Afridi and Razzaq did, if not more. Looks the better batsmen out of the three and at times a better bowler than Razzaq, but for what reason god knows only he did not serve his country the way he could have.

Shane Bond
Such a beautiful fast bowler, was a delight to watch. Had he been fit throughout his career, was certainly a 400-500 Test wicket taker. One of the saddest career's IMO.

Irfan Pathan
The reason for his downfall is still a mystery. Either Ian Chappel made him believe he was something that he didnt need to be or Stardom was too much for him to handle and he made the wrong decision. Had he stuck to his bowling only and opted to be a minor late innings hitter, he was well on course to be India's best fast bowler. Such an amazing out-swinger to the left hander and In-swing to the right, was a delight to watch on song! India didnt need him as a real genuine all-rounder, they had plenty to cover with the Bat, but for some reason, they wanted more.

please post more names

 

[Savak]

Mohammad Sami

 

[Blitz]

Shoaib Akhtar.

He's already one of the greats, but let me put it in simple terms.


Akhtar easily had the talent to become the greatest bowler in history.


Probably the biggest under achiever, and he can only blame himself. And something tells me, he realised that last year, when he shortened his run up, and said he regretted not doing it earlier.

 

[khalil1986]

Imran Nazir

 

[Savak]

Shoaib Akhtar.

He's already one of the greats, but let me put it in simple terms.


Akhtar easily had the talent to become the greatest bowler in history.


Probably the biggest under achiever, and he can only blame himself. And something tells me, he realised that last year, when he shortened his run up, and said he regretted not doing it earlier.

Give the guy a break, he at least got 412 wickets for his country. If you would give something like that to Mohd Zahid who definitely had more talent and potential than Akhtar, i bet he would take it. He might not get an A+, A, B+ or even a B but deserves a B- atleast for having a decent career for Pakistan.

In contrast Mohd Sami who started of his career with a match winning performance, a couple of ODI Hat tricks, a test hatrick, 90 mph plus pace, ability to move the ball both ways, so much early promise and to see him fall away so badly in the end was even more painful to me.

 

[Savak]

Imran Nazir

Yup another one. Mostly mishandled by the captains, team management and the PCB.

 

[Blitz]

Give the guy a break, he at least got 412 wickets for his country. He might not get an A+, A, B+ or even a B but deserves a B- atleast for having a decent career for Pakistan.

Er....what did I say?

He's already one of the greats,

Gosh.....

Even when praising him, you get attacked for no reason

 

[Ismailtoca]

Surprised no one mentionned it:

Muhammad Aameer

 

[Ismailtoca]

Also, Yasir Arafat

 

[Watsupdoc]

 

[ExLegend]

Umar Akmal will become one soon If he doesn't get himself sorted seriously he doesn't not look like the cricketer that we saw in AUS and NZ

 

[khalil1986]

Surprised no one mentionned it:

Muhammad Aameer

There's still hope he is still under 20, A big apology and a lot of hard work required for him to be back but not all hope is lot (at least I hope not)

 

[bilawal666]

Nasir Jamshed

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

Amol Muzumdar, Scored 10,000+ in 1st class cricket with 25 centuries.

Vinod Kambli, very stylish batsmen, avg 54, 4 100s only 17 tests, nine comebacks into the Indian team.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-UO3V_19DZ0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Markhor]

Asim Kamal, dropped for no reason despite performing, he didn't have a susar to rely upon.

Taufeeq Umar is another one, yes he has been recalled but he showed what he was capable of when he scored 135 vs South Africa but PCB musical chair selection policy robbed him of his best years.

 

[rajan70]

Akhtar has to be one of them. No1 is saying that he has achieved very less but he could have reached those heights that no bowler ever has. Steyn probably would achieve what Akhtar could have even though both had equal amount of talent .

Flintoff another player, easily the greatest Test All-Rounder of past two decades but could have achieved more . This man dominated the Series against the Number 1 Test team like a true champion but couldnt extend his career due injuries .


Shane Bond:
Had all the three qualities of being one of the greatest ever : Talent , Discipline & Professionalism However injuries always got the better of him. Just 20 tests in a career of 10 years is ridiculous but not his fault though.
Asim Kamal:
Ditched by the PCB , deserved more chances than Shoaib Mirza.

Vinod Kambli:
Another product of Mumbai's strong Batting culture coming up in ranks with likes of Manjrekar & Tendulkar , someone who was destined to succeed as he possessed talent equal to his classmate/team-mate Sachin Tendulkar . But while likes of Tendulkar inspite of getting overnight stardom & moolah never got distracted from the path of seeking continuous improvement in their game Kambli was more interested in Daaru & Ladkiyan and lost his place from the side . He was the Indian version of Shoaib Akhtar : Total Aiyaash .

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

Sanjay Manjrekar also under achiever, he was biggest hero in Indian cricket. Technically he was considered one of best. Buzz used to be more about Manjrekar than Sachin.

 

[Sledger]

Umar Gul should have been the leading fast bowler in test cricket alongside Steyn. A very confused bowler unfortunately, has never mastered the mental aspect of his art fully.

 

[khan_a]

saqlain mushtaq - had so many wickets in such little time, even to this day he could have been playing.

should have surpassed the warnes and murli.

in 99 saqlain was the number 1 spinner in limited overs cricket. 'saqlain the spin doctor, warne the patient' was a common crowd banner at the time.


mushtaq ahmed - gifted with all the variations, a real wicket taker.

showed what he was about in the uk domestic scene towards the latter part of his career.

unplayable at times, i still remember in 96 he would be the best bowler on the last day a team could ask for.


asif, aamer obviously.

even wasim akram underacheived. he has to be the most gifted fast bowler of all time. should have had 500 plus test wickets to add his outstanding odi tally.

 

[hur rizvi]

Muhammad Zahid

 

[velu]

Number 1 under achiever must be none other than Saqlain Musthaq.

 

[SOSami]

Mohammad Sami.

Absolutely amazing talent who should have been remembered as one of the true greats of the game. I can still remember clearly the first time I saw him bowl and thinking if he makes it, we as Pak fans will be in for a fantastic decade of cricket. Could (should) have smashed records and stamped his name alongside the Marshalls, Holdings and Waqars.

The biggest waste of talent I have witnessed in my time watching cricket, and I'm including the guys who were recently banned or any others that have been left at the wayside by Pakistani cricket.

 

[Rana]

Mohammad Sami.

Absolutely amazing talent who should have been remembered as one of the true greats of the game. I can still remember clearly the first time I saw him bowl and thinking if he makes it, we as Pak fans will be in for a fantastic decade of cricket. Could (should) have smashed records and stamped his name alongside the Marshalls, Holdings and Waqars.

The biggest waste of talent I have witnessed in my time watching cricket, and I'm including the guys who were recently banned or any others that have been left at the wayside by Pakistani cricket.

I kinda agree

 

[Passionate-FastBowler]

all these cricketers mentioned have played for a very long time in their national teams. Can't say wasted but unfulfilled potential.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Talking about talent here :ahmed

 

[Hasnain_786]

this thread makes you feel sad

 

[Bhaijaan]

Vinod Kambli's name quickly springs to mind

 

[Fireworks11]

Sami by a country mile. The boy promised so much when he entered the scene. Sadly he's proven to be an utter waste. Talent not fulfilled. Big time.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Never had expectations from Sami at all, he was a pathetic bowler to say the least : DHONI

 

[Rana]

Never had expectations from Sami at all, he was a pathetic bowler

He is something you lot can only dream about

 

[emclub]

Shahid Afridi

Imran Nazir

Chris Cairns

Mark Waugh

and

wait for it

.

.

.

.

 

[Bhaijaan]

LOL , Dream off a Sami?

VRV Singh is better than Sami !

 

[SOSami]

Mr Fastbowler, Calm down!

Sami insults gets me worked up too though...

 

[Rana]

LOL , Dream off a Sami?

VRV Singh is better than Sami !

Or Atul Sharma? The fastest bowler of all time who trained with a fake coach and still hasnt ever played!

 

[SOSami]

FC, if you boys had Sami, even in his current state, you would have won a test or two on this tour.

 

[Rana]

Come to think about it

Sami
Zaheer Khan
Praveen Kumar

is not a bad bowling attack lol

 

[SOSami]

Come to think about it

Sami
Zaheer Khan
Praveen Kumar

is not a bad bowling attack lol

That looks better than Junaid, Sohail and Cheema lol

 

[Bhaijaan]

FC, if you boys had Sami, even in his current state, you would have won a test or two on this tour.

Against WI and NZ probabaly. Sami has been one of Pakistan's rare 'not good enough' bowlers

 

[Legend Killer]

LOL , Dream off a Sami?

VRV Singh is better than Sami !

are you kidding me? is quicker and better than most of the bowlers India ever produced.

 

[Bhaijaan]

are you kidding me? is quicker and better than most of the bowlers India ever produced.

Not sure if serious?
Can name half a dozen better Indian bowlers than Sami in just the last decade.

 

[Maher96]

Don't know about talent wasted but the most talentless player ever is Munaf Patel, more like a D grade Comedian.

 

[Legend Killer]

Not sure if serious?
Can name half a dozen better Indian bowlers than Sami in just the last decade.

Expect Zaheer Khan which indian bowler that debuted in the last decade would you say was better than

 

[Bhaijaan]

Don't know about talent wasted but the most talentless player ever is Munaf Patel, more like a D grade Comedian.

You should ask Razzak and Hafeez

 

[Bhaijaan]

Expect Zaheer Khan which indian bowler that debuted in the last decade would you say was better than

Pathan , Nehra, Sreesanth, Munaf, Ishant, Praveen, RP are all better than Sami

 

[Legend Killer]

Pathan , Nehra, Sreesanth, Praveen, RP are all better than Sami

Maybe they are better test bowlers but Sami is definitely the better ODI bowler, you can look at the stats if you want. And i am pretty sure even you know that Sami is quicker and generally more skilled than all the bowlers you posted,

 

[Bhaijaan]

Did i say any of them is quicker?

They are better !

 

[Legend Killer]

,,, Munaf than Sami

: , thats the only reply that post deserved

 

[Legend Killer]

Did i say any of them is quicker?

They are better !

like is said maybe better test bowlers(expect Munaf) but Sami is definitely the better ODI bowler

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

and ashraful

 

[Wised up]

Saeed Anwar? could have/should have achieved much more in Test cricket.

 

[Watsupdoc]

Still hasn't got a century at lord's and hasn't got hundred hundreds yet either

 

[Saad Hasan]

Basit Ali....

 

[bforme]

Saqlain Mushtaq
And perhaps Fawad Alam if he is not given another chance,he is such a lovely cricketer,look at his performance during Austraila tour last year,it was too good than many players.

 

[ash 68]

I think Sachin

Had he been nurtured to forego his love of meaningless statistics he would have achieved more wins for his team and eventually become great like Dravid

 

[SOSami]

Pathan , Nehra, Sreesanth, Munaf, Ishant, Praveen, RP are all better than Sami

Er, no. Sami still creates chances against top players. Whether our fielders decide to catch them or umpires decide to give it out is another matter.

RP is better than Sami? No sure if you watched the test series but I assure you he is not.

 

[in_cutter]

Imran Nazir - this kid has some SERIOUS talent, but not brain :-(

 

[chui_kadoo]

Imran Nazir has to be at the top of the list. This guy has so much talent.
Even if he utilized half his potential he would have been a world beater and acheived great things.
Unfortunately he has wasted his immense talent due to poor shot selections and continously throwing his wicket away. Such a shame.
However he still has time to make ammends as he is still only 29 and still fit as a fiddle.
I am still waiting in hope that he turns his career around just as Hafeez has recently.
:iamlegend

 

[mrk]

On my top list


Sohaib Akthar
Mohammed Zaid
Imran Nazir
Saqlain Mustaq
Basit Ali

also
Hassan Raza
Mohammed Sami
Rao iftikhar

 

[Moh@n]

Vinod Kambli:
Another product of Mumbai's strong Batting culture coming up in ranks with likes of Manjrekar & Tendulkar , someone who was destined to succeed as he possessed talent equal to his classmate/team-mate Sachin Tendulkar . But while likes of Tendulkar inspite of getting overnight stardom & moolah never got distracted from the path of seeking continuous improvement in their game Kambli was more interested in Daaru & Ladkiyan and lost his place from the side . He was the Indian version of Shoaib Akhtar : Total Aiyaash .

This reminds me of Lakshman Shivaramakrishnan. Man what a waste of true talent! Picture this - England came on a tour to India in 1984. This guy is just one test old, going to play just his second test match of his career. In the first three innings of the series, the guy takes 18 wickets. Yes, six wickets in an innings thrice in a row, i.e. six wickets in each of the innings in the first test, followed by another six for in the first innings of the second test of that series.

He became another nutjob of not being able to handle fame, later in his career he took to drugs and womanising. Such a pity.

Another similar case was Sadanand Vishwanath, probably the best wicket keeper India has ever produced. Wasted his immense talent on useless addictions.

I was a huge fan of Asim Kamal too. Gritty, mentally very strong and technically correct. Don't know how PCB allowed such a talent to go waste!

Another one that comes to mind is Carl Hooper. The guy was hugely talented but somehow his stats don't do justice to the talent he had.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

i wound t say it was wasted exactly but Stuart Macgill always had to live under warnes shadow, if he wasn't there Macgill could have been one of the great's

 

[saeedhk]

Asim kamal and Shane Bond

 

[farsiddiqui]

Sanjay Manjrekar also under achiever, he was biggest hero in Indian cricket. Technically he was considered one of best. Buzz used to be more about Manjrekar than Sachin.

I agree. On Sachin's debut series in Pakistan, I hated Manjrekar cause he wouldn't get out. I thought he was the second coming of Gavaskar and couldn't understand why all the hype was surrounding Sachin, and not much being said about Manjrekar. I think he scored a lot during that series, including a double century.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Er, no. Sami still creates chances against top players. Whether our fielders decide to catch them or umpires decide to give it out is another matter.

RP is better than Sami? No sure if you watched the test series but I assure you he is not.

He is a great sight but hasn't really been that effective apart from a few great outings which we all remember

 

[SOSami]

He is a great sight but hasn't really been that effective apart from a few great outings which we all remember

What is this word 'effective' that you speak of?

Talent. Talunt. Taloont.

 

[farsiddiqui]

All the Mohammad Sami comments above, I think you all are missing the point of this thread. I think talent wise, Sami is miles ahead of most of the Indian bowlers, however he acheived less than most Indian bowlers also. Now, whether Sami could walk into the Indian bowling line-up now and contribute is a different topic altogether. And looking at the recent England series, I'd like to think that he would have helped.

Anyway, the thread is about perceived talent vs. actual achievement. The bigger the difference between these two items, the higher the person would be on the list.

Sami is definitely up there, and perhaps Imran Nazir.

Shoaib Akhtar underachieved, but he still accomplished a lot and made a name for himself, so the disparity between his talent and achievement may not be as much as Sami's. I think Shahid Afridi belongs in the same camp as Shoaib Akhtar. He also had the talent to achieve a lot more than he did, but he still has had several memorable moments to cherish, unlike Sami.

In my view, Inzy underachieved also. But again, he still accomplished a lot and the distance between what he did and what he was capable of (his ceiling) may not be as great.

Hasan Raza probably belongs hight on that list as a wasted talent, because if you are good enough to debut at 14, you must have some serious talent to build upon. I think his was the case of poor management by the powers that be.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Bowling fast is not a talent.

Moving it at will, producing top deliveries one after another regularly is talent

 

[Midwinter13992]

Many cricketers who were talented and highly rated but for some reasons they were unable to perform well on international platform..
Classic examples were Mark Ramprakash and Graeme Hick who piled runs in first class cricket but had flop internatinal carriers...
Who do you think are top underachievers currently playing and past played???
My List- Past players- Lara, Inzamam, Mervyn Dillon , Mahela Jayawardene (ODIs), Laxman, Atherton
Current Players- Kohli (tests), Wahab Riaz, Murali Vijay, Alastair Cook, Darren Bravo, Umar Akmal, Rohit Sharma (tests), Guptill,

 

[Slog]

Many people will put Shehzad but the brutal truth is that his game was always very limited

 

[Midwinter13992]

Many people will put Shehzad but the brutal truth is that his game was always very limited

Shehzad is overrated not underachiever

 

[Statsman]

K L Rahul desperate to add his name to the list.

 

[Midwinter13992]

K L Rahul desperate to add his name to the list.

I was thinking the same but he hasn't played many games...Hope his inconsistency problems are just temporary..

 

[Mamoon]

How is Cook an underachiever? He didn't have the range of shots to be a successful Limited Overs player, but he is a modern day great in Tests and still has many years left.

Kohli isn't an underachiever in Tests either. He has simply overachieved in Limited Overs due to which he appears to be an underachiever in Tests, since people end up comparing his stature in Limited Overs to his stature in Tests.

 

[karthikc]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] what about Pravin Amre from India? He went to play domestics in South Africa and was rated very well

 

[Mamoon]

Ian Bell is an underachiever. Sublime technique and a lot of natural ability, but he is proof of the fact that top level cricket is a game of character more than anything else.

If he had the character of some of the lesser talented players, he would have been an ATG.

 

[Sanzcool]

Lara underachiever in tests? First one to call this

 

[Sanzcool]

This has to be Vinod Kambli as the numero uno; 55 avg in Tests, 60 avg in FC cricket(10K + runs), dropped after 1 poor series

 

[Statsman]

By the way, we've had a few of similar threads before.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?224578-Who-was-the-biggest-underachiever-in-cricket

 

[Ab Fan]

Very disappointing list to be honest..

 

[Midwinter13992]

Very disappointing list to be honest..

Thank you for honest feedback

 

[street cricketer]

VVS Laxman
Murali Vijay
Mark Waugh
Mike Hussey
Chris Rodgers
Ian Bell
Shoaib Akhtar
Shane Bond
Jesse Ryder
Darren Bravo.