One Test or Series Wonders

[Coronis]

Would be inteeested in learning a bit more about these types of players, whether they were only picked in a single test/series or were awful outside of that.

Just off a casual Statsguru search the top two who only played a single test that come to mind are Andy Ganteaume (112 vs England in 1948) and Charles Marriot (6/59 and 5/36 vs Windies in 1933).

Apparently Ganteaume slowed down when nearing his ton and may have cost the Windies a chance at winning. Marriott I presume was less favoured than other spinners of the time, and only played vs the Windies cos they were minnows then.

 

[shortpitched713]

Andy Ganteaume obituary

West Indies batsman caught up in the racial politics of colonial cricket, who made a century on his international debut and never played another Test

www.theguardian.com

A racialist motivation was posited as another reasoning by Ganteaume himself. I think it's awful that he was not given at least another chance, given his FC record indicates a handy WK-batsman.

 

[ankitj]

Karun Nair. Only the 2nd Indian batsman to score test triple hundred.

 

[Sunil1z]

Jayant Yadav. Had excellent series against England in 2016 . Then faded away .

 

[Sunil1z]

Steve Okeefe at Pune .

 

[slippy888]

Alan Wells was a run machine in county cricket and he only ended up playing 1 test match for England.

Alan Wells Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video

Read about Alan Wells cricket player from England profile, stats, rankings, records, videos, photos at ESPNcricinfo

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[slippy888]

Alan Wells should have been heading towards greatness i think.

 

[R!TTER]

SoK, avg nearly 55 in 3 tests after Pune.

 

[Daemon]

Alan Wells should have been heading towards greatness i think.

Sure he was

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Rodney Redmond (father of Aaron who also played for NZ). Scored a century and 50 in his 1st and only test (v Pakistan) in the 70s. Had problems with contact lenses and never played a 2nd test (batting av 81.5).

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Jack Iversen (Aussie mystery spinner) - tragic story. His test career consisted of all 5 tests in 50/51 Ashes taking 21 wickets @ 15.2

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

John Stephenson was one that interested me as I used to see him for Essex relatively frequently at around that time. Single cap for England at a time when Essex players were in vogue. Picked in a particularly weak England line-up with a young Atherton and a lower order featuring David Capel and Derek Pringle. He debuted alongside the late Alan Igglesdon. Final Test of the Summer, a draw against Australia and didn't make that Winter's tour. He bowled some nice swingy mediums that were pretty useful in County Cricket - not vastly dissimilar to a Gooch or Butcher, but slightly better (as nearly 400 FC wickets will attest). Quite an unusual mix of player.

(I think Wayne Larkins was recalled for the tour to West Indies after that Summer. Interesting player himself - one who perhaps would be more successful today than he was at the time.)

 

[the big bambino]

Apparently Ganteaume slowed down when nearing his ton and may have cost the Windies a chance at winning. Marriott I presume was less favoured than other spinners of the time, and only played vs the Windies cos they were minnows then.

Marriot was a gent and usually played in August when his job (as a teacher I think) would allow. Therefore he wouldn't be available for any of the early home tests and would have to come right to the fore straight away to get selected for the Oval match at season's end. This proved so difficult he only did it once then toured India with Jardine's side and played on for only a few seasons afterwards.

 

[Burgey]

Richard Ellison came in to the England side in the 85 Ashes and took 17 wickets in two tests at less than 11 a piece, but never reproduced anything like that form again.

 

[mr_mister]

Bob Massie is an interesting one

 

[Line and Length]

While Chris Broad played 25 Tests he averaged a fairly modest 39.6 as an opener. However, he had one stellar series. In the 86/87 Ashes series in Australia he scored 487 runs at an average of 69.6
He played only one other Test in Australia, scoring 139 which means, in 6 Ashes Tests in Australia, he scored 4 centuries and averaged 78.3

 

[Line and Length]

Bob Massie is an interesting one

He is indeed. As a 25 year old he had that sensational debut at Lords in 1972. He played in only 5 more Tests when health failed him on the 1973 West Indies tour and he was unable to recover his swing and accuracy. He played only a further five first class matches before retiring. In 1978 he coached our local club in Perth. He was a positive influence on many of our players but his bowling saw him with just 29 wickets @ 16.6 in the 11 games he played.

 

[the big bambino]

Richard Ellison came in to the England side in the 85 Ashes and took 17 wickets in two tests at less than 11 a piece, but never reproduced anything like that form again.

good one. Can’t remember seeing or reading an instance when such a meh player bossed a series.

 

[Starfighter]

George Bissett.

A South African fast bowler who toured England in 1924 and broke down before the test series, not playing first class for several years afterwards. He was recalled for the second test in 27/28 on the tenuous basis of performing in a club match and went on to take 25 wickets in four tests, including 7/29 in the final innings of series which SA levelled. He only played two further first class matches with little success.

 

[tony p]

One series wonder was SA wicket-keeper bat, Denis Lindsay.

Against Aust in 1966/67 in SA ( 5 Test series), scored 606 runs @86.57 , with 3 centuries. ( only 524 runs in his other 14 Tests)
Also took a then SA record of 24 catches in the series.