What qualifies as a Wasted Talent?

[subshakerz]

The term wasted talent is bandied about but there is some lack of clarity on the term. Afridi is characterized as such but played nearly 400 ODI games. On the other hand, you have Bond who had a short career but the term doesnt apply to him for some reason maybe since he was a superb performer but just didnt get enough opportunities do to injury, so he didnt waste himself.

What would be a good definition and who would be your top three 'wasted talents'?

 

[Starfighter]

Steven Finn

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Chris Lewis
Mark Ramprakash
Graeme Hick

 

[ankitj]

Irfan Pathan may be.

 

[Burgey]

So many wastemen
So little time

 

[CricAddict]

To me, wasted talent is a straightforward definition of someone who burst into the scene but then faded off due to injury or politics or other reasons. That way, top 3 on top of my mind is

Vinod Kambli
Mohammed Amir
Fawad Alam

 

[subshakerz]

To me, wasted talent is a straightforward definition of someone who burst into the scene but then faded off due to injury or politics or other reasons. That way, top 3 on top of my mind is

Vinod Kambli
Mohammed Amir
Fawad Alam

I think wasted talent implies that the individual didnt do what they should have to realize their talent whereas injuries can be out of their hands.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Jesse Ryder

 

[StephenZA]

Duminy!

 

[Ashes81]

Chris Lewis
Mark Ramprakash
Graeme Hick

3 excellent choices.

Hick averaged over 50 in 1st class cricket but about 20 less in tests - he just couldn't handle the pressure at test level.

The same applies to Ramps - he had all the talent but again couldn't do it at the highest level.

Lewis was so talented but again lacked the mentality needed.

3 hugely talented players but nowhere near enough output at test level.

 

[Howe_zat]

If only slippy were here to tell us

 

[jcas0167]

Jesse Ryder.

 

[Zinzan]

Jesse Ryder

As good as an example as any. Insanely talented cricketer.

 

[BazBall21]

Ramps is a better example. He had a much better technique than Hick.

 

[Daemon]

The term wasted talent is bandied about

The term is wasteman

 

[Coronis]

SG Barnes

 

[Lillian Thomson]

John Crawley. Had everything and achieved nothing.

 

[srbhkshk]

Munaf Patel - brilliant bowler but too lazy to care about fitness.

 

[mr_mister]

John Crawley. Had everything and achieved nothing.

Wasn't he completely leg side dominant though with no offside game? Sounds like he had half of everything

 

[Coronis]

In retrospect probably both Barnes’ actually.