Lol what?
Bumrah was a runaway success in each format from the very first delivery. What transformation are you speaking of here?
ODIs, T20s, and Tests, he has dominated from 1st delivery he bowled. He is a case of consistence excellence.
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Name the best and worst ever career transformations in the history of cricket?
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Lol what?
Bumrah was a runaway success in each format from the very first delivery. What transformation are you speaking of here?
ODIs, T20s, and Tests, he has dominated from 1st delivery he bowled. He is a case of consistence excellence.
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The worst transformation can be SKY from T20s to ODIs. NO?
Don't understand Rahul Dravid. Unless you are talking about one day cricket. He started quite strongly in test cricket. And hardly transformed his way of play.
VVS Laxman
In his first 16 tests spanning from 1996 to end of 1999, he averaged just 24. Was pm the brink of being dropped and forgotten after the infamous Aus tour. But the stars aligned and he made that magical 160 in the 2000 Sydney test
From that test till his retirement he averaged nearly 50 across 118 tests and scored over 8000 runs. And always made crunch runs. Unbelievable transformation.
In his first 16 tests spanning from 1996 to end of 1999, he averaged just 24. Was pm the brink of being dropped and forgotten after the infamous Aus tour. But the stars aligned and he made that magical 160 in the 2000 Sydney test
From that test till his retirement he averaged nearly 50 across 118 tests and scored over 8000 runs. And always made crunch runs. Unbelievable transformation.
Aang_The_last_airbender
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and back to nobody!
Nonsense.
He avg 39 with the bat and 25 with the ball in his last test series vs Eng. Only an idiot would write him off
Aang_The_last_airbender
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He is great in Tests in India.
but literally a passenger in current T20 set up
So true.
Thr MVP of Indian team
Can argue same about Kohli too. Actually Kohli has been useless for India in tests for a long time.
Jadeja has been good all round the globe in last 6 or 7 years.
Aang_The_last_airbender
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True Kohli has completely faded in tests. He should stop taking long breaks from cricket
He's surplus in all formats.for India these days. We are winning without any of his notable contributions.
Jadeja is being poorly used in this WC. And to add Jadeja has never really been indispensable in T20s for India anyway
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Shamar Joseph is a great talent, I hope WI cricket board now doesn't waste such a talent. His bowling against South Africa today was superb.
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Thankfully he never had to face Lord Umar Akmal... otherwise his career might have been ruined lol
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usman.sandhu
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Babar Azam, Shaheeh Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan - all regressed massively in their careers, the last 2 years have been really poor for them..
The only reason that we are persisting with Babar and SSA is because we have no players coming through our domestic circuit and PSL has been a massive disappointment in identifying and grooming talent..
The only reason that we are persisting with Babar and SSA is because we have no players coming through our domestic circuit and PSL has been a massive disappointment in identifying and grooming talent..
Bhaijaan
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Someone earning a living through a clean job like that is any day much better than someone destroying his life.
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worst career transformation undoubtedly belongs to Lord Umar Akmal.... nobody can surpass him!
The way he started his career it felt like he would break many records but he ended up becoming meme material for the country.
The way he started his career it felt like he would break many records but he ended up becoming meme material for the country.
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Worst to Best : Rizwan, Azhar Ali,
Best to Worst: Umer Akmal, Shadab Khan,
Worst to Worst: Faisal Iqbal, M Sami
Best to Worst: Umer Akmal, Shadab Khan,
Worst to Worst: Faisal Iqbal, M Sami
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jnaveen1980
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Glenn pHilips.
chinaman00
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One of the best transformations is Shahid Afridi. Recruited into the team as a legspinner. Then plays that inning in Kenya which etched his name in the history books as a destructive batsman. Later when his batting skills regressed, resorted to being a legspinner again.
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Best : Steve Smith
Worst: Carlos Braithwaite and Sreesanth Jr
Worst: Carlos Braithwaite and Sreesanth Jr
Buffet
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IK got be one of the cadidates for the best transformation.
Well, theoretically we can say - the best transformation was Don Bradman. He had a poor start in 1st Ashes Test 1928-29 at Gabba. Scored 18 & 1, Aussies lost by 675 runs (that too after first time a side declared in an Australian Test). So, he was dropped for Vic Richardson (a grudge that Bradman carried up to the grandsons of Vic Richardson- Chappells are Vic’s maternal grandsons) - Aussies lost again, and he scored a FC double before 3rd Test. So, he was called back, still Aussies lost conceding an unassailable 0-3 lead, but this time Sir Don scored 79 & 118 …. For next 20 years, never looked back.
But realistically the greatest career transformation that cricket had seen has to be Imran Khan. Went to UK in 1971 summer as a 17 years old high school kid only from family connections- his main purpose was to find a high school in UK for higher studies and when he almost knocked Aftab Balooch‘s head with beemer, Balooch shouted his mind regarding Imran’s talent and how he made the squad, because …….. he was batting on the adjacent net that Imran was bowling!!!
Since then, that kid stopped cricket for 3 years, went to Worcester Grammar School to Oxford to Sussex and made PAK team of 1974 - this time on merit, but still he was a military medium pacer who could bring the ball in from an angelic run up, but no out swing, hardly any pace to bounce and had no knowledge of cutting off the wicket.
But, he made a 160+ for Oxford against touring India which led Greig to bat him at 5 at Sussex and by 1976 he was a decent no. 8 for PAK (it was decent because he batted aged of Intekhab & Bari). Then went to Australia and found a foul mouth angry fast bowler who was extremely abusive on field on a very bad day of bowling (0/125 @ 5+), but came to talk in the evening about what better could be done ….. it worked - 12/162 at SCG did win a rare Test for PAK in Australia. Imran never forget that man to render his respect.
His ego was extremely hurt in following WIN series when to a Channel 9 commi’s note, Sir Gary said that -“if this no name can bowl at the speed to Lillee, then Lillee must have been warming - up with half run-up”. That vaunted ego resulted 30 wickets, bowling absolute flat out and it landed another opportunity- a ticket for Packer’s WSC. He learned lot there, converted his playboy like body into a NFL wide receiver like body …. but still, he was just a decent fast bowler, who could bat a bit.
Early 80s, after trying, God knows probably 10-12 captains, finally PCB had to make him captain, which led to the greatest transformation of career - a decade, hampered by internal politics, infighting, career threatening injury that cost best 2 years of career …. still ended with a batting average of 48 for 2500+ runs & bowling average of 18, for over 250 wickets ….. no one, not even Bradman had a decade like that.
For the worst …. several in recent times, sadly many from Pakistan. Umar Akmal indeed comes to mind, could be Saqlin as well, Mo. Zahid, Mo. Sami, Azhar Mahmoud, Salim Elahi …. But the guy who disappointed me most was another Imran, not Khan but Nazir. This guy was special when I saw him as 17 years old - may be take 3-4 years in it but still at 20-21, he played one of the best innings that anyone played against Ambi, Walshi, Rose & King - 131 in 2 sessions at Barbados. Bar Inzi, he was the only domestically developed PAK batsman who had a better back-foot game than front foot, better off-side game than leg side. And a brilliant, brilliant fielder as well. But, never fulfilled his potential and never tried to learn. No comparison now, but at times he reminded me of a Herschel Gibbs at his brilliant best.
In olden days, crickets greatest loss was probably Archie Jackson - Bradman’s contemporary and some people did rate him as good as …. But, he was suffering from severe tuberculosis and played often hiding illness - left world just at 23, with a batting average of 48, for the 8 Tests he could play in 3 years, but I don’t think this one should be considered for worst turnaround, rather an unfulfilled promise.
But realistically the greatest career transformation that cricket had seen has to be Imran Khan. Went to UK in 1971 summer as a 17 years old high school kid only from family connections- his main purpose was to find a high school in UK for higher studies and when he almost knocked Aftab Balooch‘s head with beemer, Balooch shouted his mind regarding Imran’s talent and how he made the squad, because …….. he was batting on the adjacent net that Imran was bowling!!!
Since then, that kid stopped cricket for 3 years, went to Worcester Grammar School to Oxford to Sussex and made PAK team of 1974 - this time on merit, but still he was a military medium pacer who could bring the ball in from an angelic run up, but no out swing, hardly any pace to bounce and had no knowledge of cutting off the wicket.
But, he made a 160+ for Oxford against touring India which led Greig to bat him at 5 at Sussex and by 1976 he was a decent no. 8 for PAK (it was decent because he batted aged of Intekhab & Bari). Then went to Australia and found a foul mouth angry fast bowler who was extremely abusive on field on a very bad day of bowling (0/125 @ 5+), but came to talk in the evening about what better could be done ….. it worked - 12/162 at SCG did win a rare Test for PAK in Australia. Imran never forget that man to render his respect.
His ego was extremely hurt in following WIN series when to a Channel 9 commi’s note, Sir Gary said that -“if this no name can bowl at the speed to Lillee, then Lillee must have been warming - up with half run-up”. That vaunted ego resulted 30 wickets, bowling absolute flat out and it landed another opportunity- a ticket for Packer’s WSC. He learned lot there, converted his playboy like body into a NFL wide receiver like body …. but still, he was just a decent fast bowler, who could bat a bit.
Early 80s, after trying, God knows probably 10-12 captains, finally PCB had to make him captain, which led to the greatest transformation of career - a decade, hampered by internal politics, infighting, career threatening injury that cost best 2 years of career …. still ended with a batting average of 48 for 2500+ runs & bowling average of 18, for over 250 wickets ….. no one, not even Bradman had a decade like that.
For the worst …. several in recent times, sadly many from Pakistan. Umar Akmal indeed comes to mind, could be Saqlin as well, Mo. Zahid, Mo. Sami, Azhar Mahmoud, Salim Elahi …. But the guy who disappointed me most was another Imran, not Khan but Nazir. This guy was special when I saw him as 17 years old - may be take 3-4 years in it but still at 20-21, he played one of the best innings that anyone played against Ambi, Walshi, Rose & King - 131 in 2 sessions at Barbados. Bar Inzi, he was the only domestically developed PAK batsman who had a better back-foot game than front foot, better off-side game than leg side. And a brilliant, brilliant fielder as well. But, never fulfilled his potential and never tried to learn. No comparison now, but at times he reminded me of a Herschel Gibbs at his brilliant best.
In olden days, crickets greatest loss was probably Archie Jackson - Bradman’s contemporary and some people did rate him as good as …. But, he was suffering from severe tuberculosis and played often hiding illness - left world just at 23, with a batting average of 48, for the 8 Tests he could play in 3 years, but I don’t think this one should be considered for worst turnaround, rather an unfulfilled promise.
baba ghazi
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rahuld ravid was literally never a mediocre player.. scored 95 in his first inning ..scored his first hundred against south africa..at best you can say that he transformed a bit in ODI but then everybody kindof struggled in white ball cricket for a few years in that era..he was also very big at domestic level before international debut
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FYI
In Steve Smith's debut Test, he was picked as a leg-spinner and batted No.8 - making 1 and 12.
His path to 10,000 Test runs, and what fellow greats now say about his standing in cricket history, is extraordinary.
In Steve Smith's debut Test, he was picked as a leg-spinner and batted No.8 - making 1 and 12.
His path to 10,000 Test runs, and what fellow greats now say about his standing in cricket history, is extraordinary.
GoUgandaCranes
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Pak only.
Best: Imran Khan. From a medium pace trundler who thought he could bat to a belligerent match winning bowler & a proper defensive bat. He was also more than decent in ODIs and Pak would love to have a player like him in the team right now.
Worst: Kamran Akmal. From matching Gilchrist shot for shot to becoming a total over weight catch dropping machine pegging back Paks brief resistance during our glorious test batting era. Inzi, MoYo, YK while having Akhtar, Asif, Amir, Gul, Wahab, etc. should have resulted in at least 3-5 overseas test victories.
Best: Imran Khan. From a medium pace trundler who thought he could bat to a belligerent match winning bowler & a proper defensive bat. He was also more than decent in ODIs and Pak would love to have a player like him in the team right now.
Worst: Kamran Akmal. From matching Gilchrist shot for shot to becoming a total over weight catch dropping machine pegging back Paks brief resistance during our glorious test batting era. Inzi, MoYo, YK while having Akhtar, Asif, Amir, Gul, Wahab, etc. should have resulted in at least 3-5 overseas test victories.
FearlessRoar
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It's coming soon: Babar Azam – from worst to best.
baba ghazi
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jadeja has retired from t20..he was in world cup winning team
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A case in hand
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Shehzad and Akaml were never rated beyond this forum so I wouldn't count them as examples. But the other three definitely make the cut.
Right now, Babar Azam and Shaheen both are threatening to be all time contenders of worst transformations. Both were hailed and then subsequently rated as generational talents.
Worst : Steve Smith
From an atg legend to being remembered as a cheat.
When people bring up Steve Smith the first thing they will remember Is Sandpaper, his batting records don't matter.
He didn't just cheat, he made his team mates cheat and got caught and banned .
That's his legacy for life.
From an atg legend to being remembered as a cheat.
When people bring up Steve Smith the first thing they will remember Is Sandpaper, his batting records don't matter.
He didn't just cheat, he made his team mates cheat and got caught and banned .
That's his legacy for life.
It's my opinion that Akmal and Shehzad's potential surpassed that of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, but their careers were tragically cut short by a combination of factors, notably off-field issues.
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