Which player has been the worst investment in cricket by their respective countries?

[BunnyRabbit]

By investment, I mean, players who have been given a lot of opportunites by their teams, facilities they had been provided by their boards and all the faith that was put in them yet they either failed to improve, declined or just wasted their opportunities and every thing that was given to them?

For me, Umar Akmal, Ahmad Shehzad easily on the top. No need for any explanation cause they were given 100s of opportunities to play, were given all the time in the world, yet they proved out to be a massive massive failure.

Below these two, I would have Asad Shafiq. He was given 60+ ODI's and 15+ ODI's to cement his place. He failed almost every time. Even his test record, he failed to bridge the gap and stand up after the retirements of younis and misbah. He even became even more recluse to responsibilities and up till now he has played 70+ tests with same issues in his game that have been present since his first test. He may just end up as an average or just good test batsman by the end of his career but nothing more than that.


I can't speak for other countries, but from observation, I feel Sunil Narine has been a big failure for WI Cricket as he keeps making himself unavailable and instead WI having to rely on the likes of Ashley Nurse and Devendra Bishoo (obviously lesser bowlers than narine)

 

[Cric_lover4487]

I would add Amir to this list. PCB got him out of spot fixing mess. Invested a lot in him. He retired from test cricket and chose to play T20 leagues instead.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I would add Amir to this list. PCB got him out of spot fixing mess. Invested a lot in him. He retired from test cricket and chose to play T20 leagues instead.

Yes that is genuine anger from us fans. But the thing is he is still performing to his ability and does it most of the time when he plays. He bowled pretty well in WC19. Wouldn't really call it a failed investment though.

 

[Godhelpma]

Asad Shafiq, the ultimate torture !

 

[ElRaja]

In test matches, since ive been watching...

Pakistan - Asad Shafiq
India - Yuvraj Singh
Bangladesh - Rubel Hossain
England - Mark Ramprakash
West Indies - Marlon Samuels
Australia - Shaun Marsh
New Zealand - Martin Guptill
South Africa - J P Duminy

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

In test matches, since ive been watching...

Pakistan - Asad Shafiq
India - Yuvraj Singh
Bangladesh - Rubel Hossain
England - Mark Ramprakash
West Indies - Marlon Samuels
Australia - Shaun Marsh
New Zealand - Martin Guptill
South Africa - J P Duminy

For me Yuvi, Samuels and Guptill are greats for their countries. They are winners.

OTOH, likes of Asad Shafiq are losers and a disappointment.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

I would add Amir to this list. PCB got him out of spot fixing mess. Invested a lot in him. He retired from test cricket and chose to play T20 leagues instead.

True but the way he owned Indians in CT final he earned a lot of respect.
At least, I'm cool with his decision to retire.

 

[ElRaja]

For me Yuvi, Samuels and Guptill are greats for their countries. They are winners.

OTOH, likes of Asad Shafiq are losers and a disappointment.

im only talking about test matches. there great limited overs players cos theyve won stuff, but no way can u justify samuels playing 75 test matches imo.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

True but the way he owned Indians in CT final he earned a lot of respect.
At least, I'm cool with his decision to retire.

Cool, i am Indian by the way. My point is i don't think any board has backed a player before to this extent. Mohd. Asif would have played test cricket if he was backed the same way.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

For me Yuvi, Samuels and Guptill are greats for their countries. They are winners.

OTOH, likes of Asad Shafiq are losers and a disappointment.

Samuels has delivered in T20 world cups. Asad Shafiq, i would hardly call a disappointment. He is Pakistani version of Ajinkya Rahane. He was never destined to be a world beater anyway.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Asad Shafiq, the ultimate torture !

so true

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Asad Shafiq and Asif Ali for Pakistan

 

[TeymurBlake]

Asad Shafiq definitely tops the list for me. Unreal amounts of opportunities given to him and very little to show for it. But outside of Pakistan I would probably add Gary Ballance. I never liked his stance and always thought that there were much better batsman to take in his place.

Another one would probably be Suresh Raina. I think the expectation was that he could do and replace Yuvi once he was done with Intl. cricket but alas it was not to be. A very good No.5/6 big hitting batsman with part time offspin plus good fielder. Would say there was more expected from him.

 

[RyanRyan10]

From last 20 years

India- Dinesh Karthik
Pakistan- Mohammad Sami
Australia- Shaun Marsh
SA- Temba Bavuma
Eng- Ashley Giles
NZ- Peter Fulton
WI- Devon Smith
SRL- Lahiru Thirimane
BD- Imrul Kayes
Zim- Vusi Sibanda
Afg- Sharafuddin Ashraf
Ire- Gary Wilson

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Asad Shafiq and Asif Ali for Pakistan

Asif Ali hasn't been seen as some kind of a hero in our team.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

In test matches, since ive been watching...

Pakistan - Asad Shafiq
India - Yuvraj Singh
Bangladesh - Rubel Hossain
England - Mark Ramprakash
West Indies - Marlon Samuels
Australia - Shaun Marsh
New Zealand - Martin Guptill
South Africa - J P Duminy

Guptill i concur, he has been a massive failure in tests but he has made up for it in ODI's as he is a gun player there. Same with JP, a brilliant LOI player. I would have called him a failed investment if he had gone kolpak during 2014-2015 time period.

Samuels wouldn't make my list because there wasn't anyone better than him in their domestic cricket. He didn't desert his team in the time of need. He was the best no.4 no.5 they had during 2011-2016 time period. He was very good from 2011-2014 time period. His average sored to 37 from 29 during that period. I believe he averaged 50 plus during that time period. It was after the hoodwinked fiasco that WI test team fell apart. Samuels never really regained old form but still managed to pull off a few great knock in t20is.

 

[King_Kohli]

For Test Matches: Rohit Sharma, DK, Yuvi and Rain and Manjrekar
For ODI's (Many): Dinesh Mongia, DK and Manjrekar

 

[BunnyRabbit]

From last 20 years

India- Dinesh Karthik
Pakistan- Mohammad Sami
Australia- Shaun Marsh
SA- Temba Bavuma
Eng- Ashley Giles
NZ- Peter Fulton
WI- Devon Smith
SRL- Lahiru Thirimane
BD- Imrul Kayes
Zim- Vusi Sibanda
Afg- Sharafuddin Ashraf
Ire- Gary Wilson

Ashley Giles I believe had a pretty good career considering he wasn't very good in the first place.

Thirimanne has been a massive disappointment though. Same with Mohammad Sami, Dinesh Karthik and Shaun Marsh. Dinesh Karthik especially was always someone who wouldn't take his opportunities until that little inning against bangladesh.

 

[Hasan123]

Shaun Marsh was a decent ODI player but Australia backed him way too much in tests. JP Dumminy was another bad investment by South Africa, he had a decent career but for the hype he got he was a real let down.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I would add Amir to this list. PCB got him out of spot fixing mess. Invested a lot in him. He retired from test cricket and chose to play T20 leagues instead.

At least Amir help win us the 2017 champions trophy - so I would say investment paid off.

Umar Akmal is in completely another league.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

At least Amir help win us the 2017 champions trophy - so I would say investment paid off.

Umar Akmal is in completely another league.

Would you add Faheem Ashraf to the list?
He was a regular in Pak white ball sides for 2 years but somehow didn't played World cup. He was touted as next Razzaq.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Asad Shafiq definitely tops the list for me. Unreal amounts of opportunities given to him and very little to show for it. But outside of Pakistan I would probably add Gary Ballance. I never liked his stance and always thought that there were much better batsman to take in his place.

Another one would probably be Suresh Raina. I think the expectation was that he could do and replace Yuvi once he was done with Intl. cricket but alas it was not to be. A very good No.5/6 big hitting batsman with part time offspin plus good fielder. Would say there was more expected from him.

I don't think as an Indian fan i expected more out of Raina. He did what he was expected from him. Difference of class between him and Yuvi was always visible. Asad Shafiq i think is ok. He has only been a regular pick in test team. I don't think Pak have any replacement ready. However, i always felt Pak should have got rid of Misbah and Afridi few seasons earlier than they left.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Shaun Marsh was a decent ODI player but Australia backed him way too much in tests. JP Dumminy was another bad investment by South Africa, he had a decent career but for the hype he got he was a real let down.

They are still backing Mitch Marsh to the skies. I think Marsh family have a jugaad in selection panel.

 

[CanadianG00se]

From last 20 years

India- Dinesh Karthik
Pakistan- Mohammad Sami
Australia- Shaun Marsh
SA- Temba Bavuma
Eng- Ashley Giles
NZ- Peter Fulton
WI- Devon Smith
SRL- Lahiru Thirimane
BD- Imrul Kayes
Zim- Vusi Sibanda
Afg- Sharafuddin Ashraf
Ire- Gary Wilson

Add Kedar Jadhav to the list as well. I’m not even sure what exactly does management see in him to be selected ahead of players like Gill and Iyer. He is complete dud

 

[Rayyman]

Imran Nazir for Pakistan. Had a batting average of 25 after 79 ODIs.

 

[Snowflake]

Ahmed Shehzad and Asad Shafiq

 

[zacattakk]

First name that came to my mind was Asad Shafiq. Despite 128 test innings, still remains an at best average player, on top of being a mental midget. Not someone you can rely on to turn in a match winning performance. On top of that, they gave him 60(!!!) ODIs where he averaged a palty 24.7!

 

[Slog]

Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal. Look no further

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Would you add Faheem Ashraf to the list?
He was a regular in Pak white ball sides for 2 years but somehow didn't played World cup. He was touted as next Razzaq.

Faheem still has some part of his career remaining. Who knows, maybe he reinvents himself while playing domestics.

That being said, he doesn’t belong on the list because he wasn’t talented to begin with. How can you waste talent when there was none to begin with?

During those 2 years, Faheem actually paid off the investment very well and helped us in T20s. No one expected him to become Abdul Razzak level.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Considering test cricket only

Australia - Shane Watson (59 tests), decent enough player in the white ball stuff but it was a travesty how long they persisted with him at test level

England - Mark Ramprakash (52 tests), to average 27 with his talent is criminal

India - Yuvraj Singh (40 tests), played on the basis of his white ball exploits and caused India to jettison Ganguly possibly a year too soon

New Zealand - Martin Guptill (47 tests), shown enormous faith with that horrendous technique

Pakistan - Asad Shafiq (77 tests to date, certain to play over a 100), timid and circumspect under pressure, carries an air of inevitability of failing when it matters

South Africa - Jacques Rudolph (48 tests), probably suffered when he was scandalously dropped from the tour to Australia in 2001 due to quota reasons, but for him to average 35 with his talent shows that he wasn't ever tough enough mentally to succeed at the highest level

Sri Lanka - Russel Arnold (44 tests), was never really test level so it was baffling why he kept given chances in arguably Sri Lanka's strongest ever team

West Indies - Marlon Samuels (71 tests), pathetic returns for his ability and never showed any inclination to improve

 

[Colorblind Genius]

... in before [MENTION=452]Majid Khan[/MENTION] names Hafeez.

Besides that,
For me, it’s also Misbah, Umer Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohail Tanveer, Shan Masood, Shoaib Muhammad and Imran Farhat.

From India, there is a long list medium fast bowlers.
England: Graham Thorpe
WI: Richie Richardson
Australia: Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh
South Africa: Duminy
NZ: Andrew Jones
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Muhammad Sami in test cricket by far the worst investment ever for any major test playing nation.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

First name that came to my mind was Asad Shafiq. Despite 128 test innings, still remains an at best average player, on top of being a mental midget. Not someone you can rely on to turn in a match winning performance. On top of that, they gave him 60(!!!) ODIs where he averaged a palty 24.7!

DAMN!! 128 test innings. I didn’t knew he has played so much cricket. He is still an unknown commodity in test cricket. Usually, talks start of players are seen as future potential legends at this point. I have never heard any pundit talk about him in that sense. Babar has made much more noise in just 20 tests.

 

[Last Monetarist]

... in before [MENTION=452]Majid Khan[/MENTION] names Hafeez.

Besides that,
For me, it’s also Misbah, Umer Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohail Tanveer, Shan Masood, Shoaib Muhammad and Imran Farhat.

From India, there is a long list medium fast bowlers.
England: Graham Thorpe
WI: Richie Richardson
Australia: Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh
South Africa: Duminy
NZ: Andrew Jones
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal

Whaaat?

Thorpe was England's best batsman through the 90s and early 2000s, and more often than not didn't crumble under pressure. Averaged close to 45 in 100 test matches during a tough era.

 

[Ami]

The original...the one and only, Imran Farhat.

 

[Varun]

5 years ago I would have said it was Ishant for India, but he's turned it around massively. Kudos to him and his hardwork.

I don't think as an Indian fan i expected more out of Raina. He did what he was expected from him. Difference of class between him and Yuvi was always visible. Asad Shafiq i think is ok. He has only been a regular pick in test team. I don't think Pak have any replacement ready. However, i always felt Pak should have got rid of Misbah and Afridi few seasons earlier than they left.

Raina circa 2011 was the next big thing in the leadership stakes - after the World Cup, he was given charge of the ODI team in the West Indies, and was handed a long rope at #6 in the test line-up. Sadly he blew it and drifted to the IPL instead.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Whaaat?

Thorpe was England's best batsman through the 90s and early 2000s, and more often than not didn't crumble under pressure. Averaged close to 45 in 100 test matches during a tough era.

Thorpe was World class and easily the best test batsman for England in his era. I am also surprised with him naming Richie Richardson and Andrew Jones. Didn't watch them play but have heard a many good things about Richardson and his stats also seem good. Jones also has good numbers. Would like to know your opinion on them.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Add Kedar Jadhav to the list as well. I’m not even sure what exactly does management see in him to be selected ahead of players like Gill and Iyer. He is complete dud

Jadhav didn't have long career and he wasn't as bad as DK. He didn't play any test too. DK was called back time after time for his brilliance at the domestic level but kept failing everytime.

 

[gazza619]

Three quarters of players that have played for Pakistan in the last decade have all been bad investments. Hence we are an average team.

 

[Mesozoic]

India - Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav and Rohit Sharma in Tests

In a couple of years, Rishabh Pant will top that list atleast for white ball cricket unless the TM wakes up.

There are other examples like ...

Lahiru Thirimanne and Kusal Mendis for Sri Lanka.

Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Shaun Tait for Australia

Wayne Parnell and potentially Aiden Markram for South Africa.

Colin Munro in ODIs and Guptill in Tests for New Zealand.

Bucket loads of them from the West Indies.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Thorpe was World class and easily the best test batsman for England in his era. I am also surprised with him naming Richie Richardson and Andrew Jones. Didn't watch them play but have heard a many good things about Richardson and his stats also seem good. Jones also has good numbers. Would like to know your opinion on them.

Yes, those two are shocking shouts too.

Andrew Jones was a workmanlike batsman: hard-working, adaptable, gritty. He was a dependable player, unlike say Ken Rutherford or Mark Greatbatch. If he had named Rutherford, I'd be inclined to agree.

Richie Richardson played a suspicious role in stoking up political divisions within the team during the early 90s after possibly conspiring with the WICB to sack Viv Richards in order to become captain. He was also partly responsible for allowing the rot of underachievement to set in within the team culture. Nonetheless, he was more than good enough as a batsman to play international cricket over a decade for one of the best West Indian sides of all time.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

I dont think we have anyone close to M.Sami and Asad Shafiq in all time losers list.... Asad Shafiq is the ultimate winner... pathatic, coward and useless cricketer... wont even have him as water boy, that big a **** he is

Umar Akmal and Ahmad Shahzad will follow the top 2


for England, I think it was Ravi Bopara
Aussies - Marsh Brothers
SA - JP Duminy and Albie Morkel
Ind - the whole team of 97 to 2003 bar Sachin+Rahul+Sorav (speaks lengths of how great these 3 were to carry the weight of the XI) .. and apologies add kumble in that list too

SL - Dilahara Fernando
Bng - the whole team since their coming excep Sakib, Mushfiq and Murtaza

WI- The whole team- their love for money and T20 has just destroyed them anyways

 

[Hasan123]

They are still backing Mitch Marsh to the skies. I think Marsh family have a jugaad in selection panel.

Mitchell Marsh can be an excellent LO player. That is the format Australia need to back him in.

 

[Markhor]

Asad Shafiq for Pakistan. Worst thing is he's constantly outperformed in domestic cricket by other batsmen, yet he continues to receive the golden boy treatment.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Yes, those two are shocking shouts too.

Andrew Jones was a workmanlike batsman: hard-working, adaptable, gritty. He was a dependable player, unlike say Ken Rutherford or Mark Greatbatch. If he had named Rutherford, I'd be inclined to agree.

Richie Richardson played a suspicious role in stoking up political divisions within the team during the early 90s after possibly conspiring with the WICB to sack Viv Richards in order to become captain. He was also partly responsible for allowing the rot of underachievement to set in within the team culture. Nonetheless, he was more than good enough as a batsman to play international cricket over a decade for one of the best West Indian sides of all time.

Andrew Jones was consistently the second best NZ batter after Martin Crowe. He actually made the most of the limited talent he had at maximized it to the very best.

Don't really know about the Richie Richardson's political role but as a batter in Tests, he was extremely good.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Three quarters of players that have played for Pakistan in the last decade have all been bad investments. Hence we are an average team.

Then three quarters wouldn't be called investments, that would simply be chop and change.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

DAMN!! 128 test innings. I didn’t knew he has played so much cricket. He is still an unknown commodity in test cricket. Usually, talks start of players are seen as future potential legends at this point. I have never heard any pundit talk about him in that sense. Babar has made much more noise in just 20 tests.

Asad Shafiq will probably end up as one of the worst players to have played 100 tests and definitely Pakistan's worst to 100 tests.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya.

 

[Kroll]

DAMN!! 128 test innings. I didn’t knew he has played so much cricket. He is still an unknown commodity in test cricket. Usually, talks start of players are seen as future potential legends at this point. I have never heard any pundit talk about him in that sense. Babar has made much more noise in just 20 tests.

LOL, was Azhar not saying he had potential only few weeks back? )

 

[JaDed]

Add Kedar Jadhav to the list as well. I’m not even sure what exactly does management see in him to be selected ahead of players like Gill and Iyer. He is complete dud

He is the only one in my list!

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Whaaat?

Thorpe was England's best batsman through the 90s and early 2000s, and more often than not didn't crumble under pressure. Averaged close to 45 in 100 test matches during a tough era.

Thorpe was World class and easily the best test batsman for England in his era. I am also surprised with him naming Richie Richardson and Andrew Jones. Didn't watch them play but have heard a many good things about Richardson and his stats also seem good. Jones also has good numbers. Would like to know your opinion on them.

Not exactly England's best in my opinion but yeah I guess it was a little overkill from my part.
However, I still kinda don't believe he was worth 100 Test Matches - he was somewhat more like an Asad Shafiq of Pakistan, whom I don't consider necessarily a bad batsman.

So I will take Thorpe out of it and put perhaps Monty Penesar or something for England.

 

[JattMaula]

I would have blindly picked Ishant 3 years back. But he has almost paid back the investment now.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Not exactly England's best in my opinion but yeah I guess it was a little overkill from my part.
However, I still kinda don't believe he was worth 100 Test Matches - he was somewhat more like an Asad Shafiq of Pakistan, whom I don't consider necessarily a bad batsman.

So I will take Thorpe out of it and put perhaps Monty Penesar or something for England.

Shafiq would only wish he could be as good as Thorpe was.

Panesar wasn't that bad. He just wasn't the first bowler material. England was suffering from lack of quality spinners for majority of 90s and 2000s until Swann turned his game around.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I would have blindly picked Ishant 3 years back. But he has almost paid back the investment now.

Ishant's turnaround has been probably the best and most unexpected. To be averaging 37 after around 60 tests to average in 20s in the next 20 or more i guess.
A lot of credit should be given to his persistent hard work and work of Bharat Arun who i believe is India's bowling coach. I remember around 2011 or 2012 his pace was floundering around at high 120s or early 130s, then after power training his pace got back up to high 130s.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Yes, those two are shocking shouts too.

Andrew Jones was a workmanlike batsman: hard-working, adaptable, gritty. He was a dependable player, unlike say Ken Rutherford or Mark Greatbatch. If he had named Rutherford, I'd be inclined to agree.

Richie Richardson played a suspicious role in stoking up political divisions within the team during the early 90s after possibly conspiring with the WICB to sack Viv Richards in order to become captain. He was also partly responsible for allowing the rot of underachievement to set in within the team culture. Nonetheless, he was more than good enough as a batsman to play international cricket over a decade for one of the best West Indian sides of all time.

Wasn't aware of politics in WI Cricket during that era. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.