Pick one of your absolute favourites who disappointed you in International cricket

[Kirkut]

Shoaib Akhtar.

Had a short test career because he never settled to bowl in 86-89 mph range and lengthen his career by avoiding injuries. Instead he took steroids and what not to always bowl at 95 mph, it did not work out in the end. Even with lower speeds I always saw Akhtar as a Waqar Younis with an extra gear, if he had managed himself sensibly.

Yuvraj Singh.

Never became the test player I wanted him to become. Anyways, a gun player in ODIs and an important part of my childhood cricket watching.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

Ajantha Mendis.

I was so excited to see a spinner run through batting line ups like a fast bowler, just to end up losing his mojo too soon.

Yap, and the real mystery is, how did he become so bad after starting off so well. Of course there's video analysis being heavily used and people would have figured out his variations, but the main thing was his accuracy, he was so bloody accurate when he started off, how did he started bowling rubbish.

This is not the Mendis we saw when he started off his international career:

 

[karan_fromthestands]

Wayne Parnell, I though he'd end up with a great ODI and T20 record, but got no where.

 

[ankitj]

Yeah, Ajantha Mendis was such a sensation when he started. Totally expected him to finish with an ATG career.

 

[Kirkut]

Yap, and the real mystery is, how did he become so bad after starting off so well. Of course there's video analysis being heavily used and people would have figured out his variations, but the main thing was his accuracy, he was so bloody accurate when he started off, how did he started bowling rubbish.

This is not the Mendis we saw when he started off his international career:

Horrible bowling. What happened to this guy?

 

[TheJediBrah]

He's a lot shorter and fatter than he used to be, maybe that's got something to do with it

 

[nightprowler10]

Shoaib Akhtar.

Had a short test career because he never settled to bowl in 86-89 mph range and lengthen his career by avoiding injuries. Instead he took steroids and what not to always bowl at 95 mph, it did not work out in the end. Even with lower speeds I always saw Akhtar as a Waqar Younis with an extra gear, if he had managed himself sensibly.

Yuvraj Singh.

Never became the test player I wanted him to become. Anyways, a gun player in ODIs and an important part of my childhood cricket watching.

I don't think Shoaib was interested in bowling if he couldn't bowl that fast tbh. He easily had ATG potential. Ridiculous bowler.

 

[Beamer]

Jerome Taylor for me. I followed him from age 17, when he was bowling mid 80 mph range with each way movement and a dreamy run-up and action.

He certainly had his world beating moments (Australia ICC trophy hatrick, 5/12 against England) but overall he was mediocre, especially in tests. A questionable work ethic in his early 20's cost him I think. Such a shame.

 

[tony p]

Ali Brown, anyone who can make two domestic one day Double Centuries should have been given many more opportunities than he had.
Only 16 ODI's in 5 years. Only averaged 22, but included a century v India, and a very good 59 v South Africa.

Whether he didn't really do enough, or the English selectors didn't trust him, I'm not sure.
He also scored nearly 17,000 first-class runs at 42.67 with 47 Hundreds, so missed out there too.

I have to say whenever I saw him, he didn't make a lot of runs, only 3 first-class 50's, and no really large one day scores, but he was always box office to me when I was visiting England.
Infact the last time I saw him bat was for Notts at Cheltenham in 2011 in a 40 over match. He opened with Alex Hales, he was out 3rd ball in the first over for 8. LOL

 

[h_hurricane]

He smashed his first delivery in first class cricket over the ropes for six. For the next 3 years, he scored a bucketful of runs in first class. Every one was wondering why he wasn't playing test cricket. His team had just had 2 horrendous overseas tours to Australia and South Africa, though he was part of the failed world cup campaign.
And then he got his first opportunity in test cricket. And boy, didn't he perform ! Just reaching his youth and in keeping with his awesome reputation as a teen age prodigy, he played some of the most stunning knocks you could ever see in anyone's first year in the premier format. Overshadowed his more hardworking mate by a considerable margin during this period.

Everyone was now sure that he would retire as an ATG. And then it all went downhill. A weakness against short ball was cruelly exploited by some quality bowlers.

In just his 3rd year, he played his last test. Without doubt, the biggest disappointment I have seen in my 3 decades of watching cricket.

 

[shashy]

Azharuddin, for obvious reasons.

 

[DriveClub]

He smashed his first delivery in first class cricket over the ropes for six. For the next 3 years, he scored a bucketful of runs in first class. Every one was wondering why he wasn't playing test cricket. His team had just had 2 horrendous overseas tours to Australia and South Africa, though he was part of the failed world cup campaign.
And then he got his first opportunity in test cricket. And boy, didn't he perform ! Just reaching his youth and in keeping with his awesome reputation as a teen age prodigy, he played some of the most stunning knocks you could ever see in anyone's first year in the premier format. Overshadowed his more hardworking mate by a considerable margin during this period.

Everyone was now sure that he would retire as an ATG. And then it all went downhill. A weakness against short ball was cruelly exploited by some quality bowlers.

In just his 3rd year, he played his last test. Without doubt, the biggest disappointment I have seen in my 3 decades of watching cricket.

Does he have a name?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Kambli

I think he assumed people would know who he was talking about

 

[Athlai]

Jerome Taylor for me. I followed him from age 17, when he was bowling mid 80 mph range with each way movement and a dreamy run-up and action.

He certainly had his world beating moments (Australia ICC trophy hatrick, 5/12 against England) but overall he was mediocre, especially in tests. A questionable work ethic in his early 20's cost him I think. Such a shame.

Good shout this. Jerome Taylor had everything to be a genuine star.

If he had played during a better time for West Indies cricket then who knows how far he would've gone.

 

[Burgey]

Kambli

I think he assumed people would know who he was talking about

I think that was Kambli's problem too. he just assumed everyone knew he'd be a star

 

[Burgey]

Jerome Taylor for me. I followed him from age 17, when he was bowling mid 80 mph range with each way movement and a dreamy run-up and action.

He certainly had his world beating moments (Australia ICC trophy hatrick, 5/12 against England) but overall he was mediocre, especially in tests. A questionable work ethic in his early 20's cost him I think. Such a shame.

Very good shout this. Thought he was going to be a consistent performer for the Windies and he with Roach would form a formidable new ball combo for quite a while.

 

[Burgey]

Horrible bowling. What happened to this guy?

He got shot ffs. I wouldn't be too hard on him.

 

[Burgey]

Instead he took steroids and what not to always bowl at 95 mph, it did not work out in the end

Well, once you're doing that you pretty much deserve what you get tbh

 

[JBMAC]

Dirk Wellham and Bob Holland

 

[Beamer]

Very good shout this. Thought he was going to be a consistent performer for the Windies and he with Roach would form a formidable new ball combo for quite a while.

He was messed around by the board a bit (which West Indian player hasn't been?) but I think mostly he only has himself to blame. More than one of our fitness staff said he was lazy and didn't follow strength and conditioning programmes. Personally I think he was far more gifted than Roach, but mostly wasted his talent whereas after his serious shoulder injury Kemar has maximised his gifts.