Biggest Under achievers XI (tests)

[Zinzan]

I'd like to propose the name Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards as a huge under-achiever, certainly from the point of view of his batting.

A test match average of barely 50 does not do his talent one iota of justice, but probably says everything about his temperament.

Although his average came down a lot towards the last quarter of his career. I'm sure he was up around 55-56 at one stage which was outstanding in the 1970s-80s. Also Viv nearly always played the same way in that he took the attack to the bowlers which is always a higher risk game.

 

[luckyeddie]

Although his average came down a lot towards the last quarter of his career. I'm sure he was up around 55-56 at one stage which was outstanding in the 1970s-80s. Also Viv nearly always played the same way in that he took the attack to the bowlers which is always a higher risk game.

He tended to get bored

 

[cricketboy29]

yeah, ive seen some of his matches, and he did look utterly bored, as if you couldnt believe how easy Test cricket batting was.

 

[luckyeddie]

yeah, ive seen some of his matches, and he did look utterly bored, as if you couldnt believe how easy Test cricket batting was.

I think he just found it too easy, round about the time he was averaging 60 or so (early 1980's).

Once that attitude sets in, it's downhill all the way. His last 30 or so tests he wasn't half the player he was, because then it's so difficult to get the attitude right again - and he never did.

Viv could have averaged 57-60, and not just 50.

 

[Zinzan]

Viv could have averaged 57-60, and not just 50.

True....Although you can improve most players averages by ignoring parts of their careers. i.e bad starts and bad finishes.

 

[luckyeddie]

True....Although you can improve most players averages by ignoring parts of their careers. i.e bad starts and bad finishes.

Whereas with most players 'part' is selective, in Viv's case, 'part' is half of it.

 

[AndrewM]

Looking at Fleming,its not hard to see why he doesn't get many runs,his technique-like most NZ players- has too many shady areas.

maybe he's under performed by 2 runs on average(he looks good enough to average 40+) but defintely not one of the biggest under acheivers of all time.

I think Fleming's recent technical adjustment has been a masterstroke in terms of consistency.

Care to explain the 'shady areas'?

But i certainly agree with him as an underachiever, heck even he admits it

I believe that he will finish his career with a 40+ average.

 

[andyc]

Has Michael Bevan been mentioned?
Admittedly he never got a huge amount of tests, but his stellar average in Australian domestic cricket and especially his perfomances last season show what talent he has

 

[Tim]

Sinclair has definately under-achieved. But whether thats his own fault or whether the selectors can also take some blame for that im not sure. The word is that he is a bit of an odd person so I gather not everybody likes him.

His FC record is brilliant for a New Zealander, infact only Chris Harris rivals him..and you could argue that at test level, Harris has also heavily underachieved considering he averages around 45 at FC level.

 

[Zinzan]

Sinclair has definately under-achieved. But whether thats his own fault or whether the selectors can also take some blame for that im not sure. The word is that he is a bit of an odd person so I gather not everybody likes him.

Yeah I've heard that of Skippy, bit of an individual

 

[Macka]

I think Fleming's recent technical adjustment has been a masterstroke in terms of consistency.

Care to explain the 'shady areas'?

But i certainly agree with him as an underachiever, heck even he admits it

I believe that he will finish his career with a 40+ average.

I'll take that bet. Fleming will never average over 40. He just is not good enough - technically or mentally.

 

[Zinzan]

Ill take that bet. Fleming will never average over 40. He just is not good enough - technically or mentally.

Thats a big call considering he only needs to improve his current test average 0.80 of a run

 

[Macka]

Thats a big call considering he only needs to improve his current test average 0.80 of a run

I'm very confident. His Test average seems to have converged, and I doubt it will move up any higher. I remember Ian Smith saying a couple of years ago that he expected both Astle and Fleming to end with Test averages over 40. I just don't see it happening.

 

[Zinzan]

I'm very confident. His Test average seems to have converged, and I doubt it will move up any higher. I remember Ian Smith saying a couple of years ago that he expected both Astle and Fleming to end with Test averages over 40. I just don't see it happening.

Your probably right actually. I think right from the start (apart from the 90 in his 1st test) Flemings average has always varied between 36 and 39.

I actually thought Fleming may have got over the problem of getting to 3 figures in year or so ago when he strung a few hundreds together ....but since then its been same old for him, no problem getting to 50 but not going on.

 

[Demolition Man]

Tim Zoehrer

 

[Craig]

I think he just found it too easy, round about the time he was averaging 60 or so (early 1980's).

Once that attitude sets in, it's downhill all the way. His last 30 or so tests he wasn't half the player he was, because then it's so difficult to get the attitude right again - and he never did.

Viv could have averaged 57-60, and not just 50.

Could that be said about Keith Miller who tended to get himself if the match was going nowhere when he was batting?

 

[Snippie]

Somebody that has underachieved for SA is definitely Jacques Rudolph. He does Brilliantly for his provincial team, whilst he just doesn't seem to have the confidence in his own ability when he plays for the national team. He has an abudance of talent, but lacks confidence, very unfortunate...

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Bevan has to be close to THE greatest under-achiever at test level.

Also, although both had okay test careers, Greg Blewett and Matthew Elliot deserve mentions.

 

[magsi23]

Greg Blewitt

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

You're funny.