Sadly short test careers...

[fredfertang]

And Fred, surprised you haven't mentioned Larwood yet - probably #1 on my list of careers cut way too short.

I like the fact that the "scoreline" between Lol and Bradman remained 1-1 as I think we can safely say that the Don would have bested him in '34 had he had the chance

..... and I agree Archie Jackson will always be the classic example of this - wonderful batsman and by all accounts a terrific bloke - great mate of Lol of course, and even took the trouble on his deathbed to send him a supportive telegram in 32/33

 

[Fuller Pilch]

At least we're not mentioning Ewen Chatfield - could've died on debut

 

[Rasimione]

Mfuneko Ngam and Brett Schultz.

Schultz and Donald would have been a deadly combo.

 

[fredfertang]

At least we're not mentioning Ewen Chatfield - could've died on debut

Depending on your definition of death as he stopped breathing I suppose you could say that he did - certainly ranks as sport's greatest comeback on that basis

 

[Bahnz]

Iain O'Brien - took him until May 2008 to establish his place in the New Zealand side where he proved himself as an excellent 3rd seamer and blogger, only to retire 18 months later.

 

[African Monkey]

Iain O'Brien - took him until May 2008 to establish his place in the New Zealand side where he proved himself as an excellent 3rd seamer and blogger, only to retire 18 months later.

Yeah a strange one. Picked kind of from nowhere to play the all-conquering Aussies in 05 before making a comeback in that disasterous 07 tour to SA, where he didn't show a lot, and people were moaning that Michael Mason should have been picked ahead of him, before proving a lot of people wrong (including myself) on that 08 tour to England, and converted me ever since.

Would be the perfect 1st change in our current bowling lineup.

 

[morgieb]

Mfuneko Ngam and Brett Schultz.

Schultz and Donald would have been a deadly combo.

Good call.

To add to Archie Jackson, I remember JBMAC posting about a guy called Karl Schneider a couple of years back. Sadly he never even played Tests, but he's another "what if".

 

[Bahnz]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hkPD021HpsM

Obber at his best, sadly in his last test.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah a strange one. Picked kind of from nowhere to play the all-conquering Aussies in 05 before making a comeback in that disasterous 07 tour to SA, where he didn't show a lot, and people were moaning that Michael Mason should have been picked ahead of him, before proving a lot of people wrong (including myself) on that 08 tour to England, and converted me ever since.

Would be the perfect 1st change in our current bowling lineup.

Reckon both should have played more than they did tbh.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Good call.

To add to Archie Jackson, I remember JBMAC posting about a guy called Karl Schneider a couple of years back. Sadly he never even played Tests, but he's another "what if".

Believe fred did a big article on him.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Schultz. Was such a scary ****

 

[eroticfishcake]

Brett Schultz,Shane Bond,Mohammad Zahid(was extremely quick),

 

[Red]

Would've been right up there with the very best of all time if his body worked.

 

[JTemperance]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hkPD021HpsM

Obber at his best, sadly in his last test.

O'Brien was up around express pace in that spell. Was he always so quick or was it a last big effort for his final Test?

 

[African Monkey]

Reckon both should have played more than they did tbh.

Yes I did have time for Michael Mason as well. Deserved a lot more that 1 test thats for sure.

 

[Bahnz]

O'Brien was up around express pace in that spell. Was he always so quick or was it a last big effort for his final Test?

He got quicker as his career progressed - started off in the 135-140 range, but by the time of that Pakistan series his first spells were consistently 140+

 

[the big bambino]

Someone has already mentioned Simon Jones, and I'll add his old man Jeff who, even if it isn't a particularly high bar, might have been England's best ever left arm quick

I beg to differ

and FR Foster.

 

[morgieb]

Damien Fleming. Sans injury could've taken something like 300+ wickets @ ~25, which probably would see him as one of the better bowlers to play Test cricket.

 

[King Pietersen]

 

[Hooksey]

One day specialist. Playing Test cricket might put at risk his technique.