Bad cricketers who played too long

[Neil Young]

Did anyone else as a kid think Lou Vincent and Reese Witherspoon were the same person

If by Reece Witherspoon, you actually mean an Oompa Loompa, then yes.

 

[Neil Young]

Because he was obviously class. McMillan said in his book that Vincent was the most talented shot maker in the side (I'll have to double check this after work).

But, he wasn't obviously class. Being an attractive stroke maker didn't make him class; numbers would have done that. But he didn't put them on the board.

At no point was he demanding selection by tearing it up domestically. He was a project. Saying that, I'm not sure he belongs in this thread.

 

[Neil Young]

I see Devon Smith played 43 tests over 15(!) years for the Windies and averaged 24. I don’t recall a lot besides him being in and out out of the side. What’s the story there?

I suppose Ken Rutherford averaging 27 over some 50+ tests is a similar case on paper, even allowing for his horror start in test cricket.

Rutherford was so talented but, yeah, he underwhelmed on the whole. I always felt he deserved his place in the side, though.

 

[Qlder]

I have to bring up the 1979-85 openers for Australia. There were no other options but Rick Darling, Graeme Wood, Andrew Hilditch, Bruce Laird, Julian Wiener and John Dyson were all pretty average, which set a really low bar and resulted in Geoff Marsh playing 50 Tests averaging 33 from 1985

...still a better record than his son Mitch though, who's averaging 30 from 42 Tests

 

[TheJediBrah]

Mitch has got a few inches on his dad though

Taller too

 

[thierry henry]

Because he was obviously class. McMillan said in his book that Vincent was the most talented shot maker in the side (I'll have to double check this after work).

Craig McMillan is the dumbest bloke on Earth so I don't know how he goes as evidence for an argument.

Plus yeah "this bloke never scores any runs but boy does he Look Class" seemed to be the sole basis for him stealing a living for about 7 years, prior to him stealing a living by match fixing.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I have to bring up the 1979-85 openers for Australia. There were no other options but Rick Darling, Graeme Wood, Andrew Hilditch, Bruce Laird, Julian Wiener and John Dyson were all pretty average,

I know he's a Saffa but Wessels was genuinely good and did very well against the Windies.

 

[Bahnz]

Craig McMillan is the dumbest bloke on Earth so I don't know how he goes as evidence for an argument.

Plus yeah "this bloke never scores any runs but boy does he Look Class" seemed to be the sole basis for him stealing a living for about 7 years, prior to him stealing a living by match fixing.

Craig McMillan is a good one for ODI cricket. Averaged mid-20's for most of his career. Seemed to figure things out at the very end but should've been binned long before that.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Craig McMillan is a good one for ODI cricket. Averaged mid-20's for most of his career. Seemed to figure things out at the very end but should've been binned long before that.

That wasn't actually that bad during his time tbh. Not convinced he could have been replaced by anyone better. If anything I saw him as a bit of a danger-man in the NZ middle order

 

[Fuller Pilch]

That wasn't actually that bad during his time tbh. Not convinced he could have been replaced by anyone better.

Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, and Jesse Ryder

 

[TheJediBrah]

Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, and Jesse Ryder

Fulton was later, not convinced he was much better
Marshall was mostly later too and wasn't better at all
Ryder was also a decade later in his career and had his own issues affecting things

 

[GoodAreasShane]

I see Devon Smith played 43 tests over 15(!) years for the Windies and averaged 24. I don’t recall a lot besides him being in and out out of the side. What’s the story there?

I suppose Ken Rutherford averaging 27 over some 50+ tests is a similar case on paper, even allowing for his horror start in test cricket.

Glad someone has mentioned Devon Smith, the first name that came to mind pretty much immediately when I saw this thread

Wasn't even close to test class, but in WI domestic cricket he was pretty much always amongst the runs in an era when pretty much nobody else was.

Was a real cycle for a while there, gun it in their FC competition, get selected for Tests, fail to deliver, get dropped, then go back to making bulk domestic runs once again. Rinse and repeat

 

[Nintendo]

Glad someone has mentioned Devon Smith, the first name that came to mind pretty much immediately when I saw this thread

Wasn't even close to test class, but in WI domestic cricket he was pretty much always amongst the runs in an era when pretty much nobody else was.

Was a real cycle for a while there, gun it in their FC competition, get selected for Tests, fail to deliver, get dropped, then go back to making bulk domestic runs once again. Rinse and repeat

Was there a particular reason Smith never kicked on in test cricket? 90% of his tests came in that 2000-2016 period where batting was about as easy as it's ever been and he consistently made runs at FC level.

 

[Bahnz]

That wasn't actually that bad during his time tbh. Not convinced he could have been replaced by anyone better. If anything I saw him as a bit of a danger-man in the NZ middle order

Definitely had his moments. That hundred v Australia in the 07 Chappell Hadlee series was as good an ODI innings as I've ever seen by a kiwi, even if McGrath was rested that game.

 

[Starfighter]

Was there a particular reason Smith never kicked on in test cricket? 90% of his tests came in that 2000-2016 period where batting was about as easy as it's ever been and he consistently made runs at FC level.

Maybe he wasn't very good.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Devon Smith sucked lol

Dwayne Smith was a better cricketer. So was Dan "McNuggets" Smith.

 

[social]

I have to bring up the 1979-85 openers for Australia. There were no other options but Rick Darling, Graeme Wood, Andrew Hilditch, Bruce Laird, Julian Wiener and John Dyson were all pretty average, which set a really low bar and resulted in Geoff Marsh playing 50 Tests averaging 33 from 1985

...still a better record than his son Mitch though, who's averaging 30 from 42 Tests

Darling was very talented but picked way too soon due to WSC and was basically crucified

Laird was actually good (scored 2 WSC tons against the Windies) and a much better player than someone like Geoff Marsh

Need to keep in mind that acceptable standards were much higher back in the day & Darling was discarded permanently from fc cricket before 30 with a similar career average to Joe Burns

 

[Qlder]

Laird was actually good (scored 2 WSC tons against the Windies) and a much better player than someone like Geoff Marsh

Yeah I remember his debut vs WI after WSC. Was sawn off on 92 and then made 75 in 2nd dig. He had a great first summer but I dont temember him doing much after. Anyway he was only mentioned to show Aus got used to 30's averaging opening batsmen to let Marsh play 50 Tests

 

[social]

Yeah I remember his debut vs WI after WSC. Was sawn off on 92 and then made 75 in 2nd dig. He had a great first summer but I dont temember him doing much after. Anyway he was only mentioned to show Aus got used to 30's averaging opening batsmen to let Marsh play 50 Tests

Must have been a personality thing with Marsh as he wasn’t very good & AB was apparently pissed when he got dropped

Laird’s peak was WSC and 32 was old when he was discarded from tests

 

[WICFan]

Was there a particular reason Smith never kicked on in test cricket? 90% of his tests came in that 2000-2016 period where batting was about as easy as it's ever been and he consistently made runs at FC level.

Anything around off stump or any sort of slow/spin bowling and he was in trouble.