Average players suddenly becoming very good

[weldone]

I feel like this thread is meant for players who appeared to be distinctly unimpressive both in potential AND performance before finding a spark out of nowhere, which Harris is the poster boy for.

A 6 foot something left armer capable of bowling 150kph doesn't fit that bill in any sense.

Nailed it

Yes, among the bowlers today, Ryan Harris is the most suitable candidate by far.

 

[ohnoitsyou]

Surprised theres been no mention of Ian O'Brien, not in the Harris class for sure, but he was very very good on his second wind

 

[watson]

After 26 Test matches Steve Waugh had a mediocre Batting Average of 30.52, had scored zero centuries, and was known as "Waugh what is he good for?"

Contrast that with Wayne Phillips who was sacked after 27 Tests despite being a more talented batsman, averaging 32.28 with 2 centuries, and being stuck with the wicket keeping duties.

 

[Flem274*]

BJ Watling. Average domestic journeyman opener to world class keeper batsman.

 

[Days of Grace]

Continuing with New Zealanders, I think Chris Harris and Roger Twose are worth a shout.

 

[eroticfishcake]

Hafeez,was very ordinary before his comeback

 

[Flem274*]

I can't remember if Graeme Swann has been mentioned. Saeed Ajmal pre-ban. If he can keep it up, Moeen Ali.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Continuing with New Zealanders, I think Chris Harris and Roger Twose are worth a shout.

this thread isn't called "average players who were exceptionally averagely average"

 

[Days of Grace]

this thread isn't called "average players who were exceptionally averagely average"

Nah, Harris was absolute gun in ODI cricket from 1996 to about 2000. Statsguru that ****.

 

[Prince EWS]

Faf du Plessis. He was a pretty average First Class cricketer until he was about 27; he'd always been a good domestic one day cricketer but his initial Test squad selection when he was 28 was only really based on one good season and he took to it like a duck to water.

To a lesser extent but in a similar way, Jonathan Trott. He'd always been a good county cricketer, but a thoroughly inconsistent one in the four day game (including occasional droppings from the team), not considered a serious Test cricket contender right up until his breakout season when he was 28. Then he had an absolutely golden run in Test cricket than few would have predicted.

 

[Valer]

On Faf / Trott / Harris

Is it fair to lump those without a test career with those who have actually played tests and not done very well?

Btw, this run he's on has to be the most devastating string of performances I've ever seen. 74 wickets in 12 tests... jeez

Surprisingly it includes Delhi 2013 where he went wicket-less.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think not even being good enough to be selected in the first place makes the transformation even more impressive.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Graham Gooch was dropped after two Tests in 1975 and then after being recalled in 1978 took another three summers to make his first century after 20+ Tests. There were serious discussions on Test Match Special about his long term prospects. One of his chief supporters was Fred Truman, though years later Sir Fred also backed John Crawley to come good in the same way that Gooch eventually did.

 

[hendrix]

Gautam Gambhir?

 

[GGG]

Nah, Harris was absolute gun in ODI cricket from 1996 to about 2000. Statsguru that ****.

I didn't know his overall statistics are as bad as they are, he was a much better ODI player than they suggest that is for sure. I would go as far as saying if he was still around he would fetch a heck of a lot playing in the IPL, perhaps as much as anyone.

 

[sledger]

Not that Kallis was ever average per se, but I've felt for some time that he ended up becoming better than was generally envisaged.

 

[Jono]

His improvement from tests 51 to 100 was quite remarkable.

 

[BeeGee]

Mark Richardson.

He went from being a very ordinary domestic spin bowler who batted at 10 and wasn't within a million miles of national selection, to being a top class test opening batsman.

 

[sledger]

Horrible to watch though.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Richardson was awesome. Absolute opposite of all those ***** FTBs. Only seamed to get runs when the pitch wasnt easy

Horrible to watch though.

Provided fans more entertainment here alone than Kallis did in 18 years.

WAFG