5 recent cricketers who were unlucky to play in sub-par teams

There have been several players who have won several matches for their countries and won recognition for their performances from across the cricketing fraternity. These performances have ensured that their teams win matches on a consistent basis.However, there have been some players who despite being very good performers for their country, have not received the kind of praise that they deserve, simply because others around them haven’t provided them with the support they need.Here’s a look at 5 such players who have performed very well individually, but have found their efforts go in vain at most times:

#5 Kevin O\'Brien

Kevin O’Brien has played 80 ODIs for Ireland and has scored 2114 runs at an average of 34.52 with two centuries to his name.

He lit up the Chinnaswamy Stadium at the 2011 World Cup with a blistering 63-ball 113 that helped the Irishmen register a famous win over England. He is also a useful right-arm medium-pace bowler, having picked up 64 wickets at an average of just over 28. He has performed decently in the T20 format of the game as well, scoring at a strike-rate of 117.35.

However, the 30-year-old has never got enough opportunities to showcase his talent on a consistent basis at the international stage and one gets to see his pyrotechnics only during the major 50-over tournaments, provided the Irish qualify.

#4 Ryan Ten Doeschate

Ryan Ten Doeschate was born in Port Elizabeth in South Africa but has earned his name through some excellent performances for the Netherlands. The 34-year-old has the highest ODI average for any cricketer who has played 20 or more matches, an astonishing 67 with the bat.

He has played 33 games for the Dutch, amassing 1541 runs with a best score of 119 that he scored at the 2011 World Cup against England in Nagpur. Ten Doeschate is a useful medium-pacer as well and has taken 55 wickets at an average of 24.12. He has also proven to be useful in the T20 format of the game, with a batting strike-rate of 138.57.

Unfortunately, the Dutch team rarely make an appearance on the international stage and hence his performances aren’t talked about as highly as they should be. He was one of the bright lights for them in an otherwise poor 2011 World Cup campaign.

#3 Heath Streak

One of Zimbabwe’s best fast bowlers, Heath Streak, was one of the shining lights along with the Flower brothers for the African nation. Streak played 65 Tests for his country, picking up 216 wickets at an average of 28.14, with a best of 6 for 73 that he recorded against India at Harare in 2005. He was also Zimbabwe’s best bowler in 50-over cricket as well, picking up 239 wickets in 189 matches with a best of 5 for 32 against India at Bulawayo.

It is said that bowlers generally hunt in pairs and Streak throughout his career could never find another bowler in the Zimbabwean attack who provided him with the support that he needed on a consistent basis and that meant that despite him providing the team with a good start more often than not, his side always lost control of the game and eventually gave away the momentum and the match to the opposition.

#2 Shakib Al Hasan

One of the best all-rounders in the modern game, Shakib Al Hasan made his ODI debut for Bangladesh in 2006 against Zimbabwe and has gone on to become the most important member of the Bangladeshi unit.

In the 141 ODIs that he has played so far, he has scored 3977 runs at an average of 34.58. He has been equally effective with the ball as well, picking up 182 wickets at an economy of 4.26. The 27-year-old has performed admirably in the longer format of the game, as well, scoring 2529 runs in 37 matches at an average of 38.31. He has done well with the ball in Tests to his credit, picking up 140 wickets, that includes a best bowling figures of 7 for 36 against New Zealand in Chittagong in 2008.

However, Shakib’s performance often goes in vain as his fellow teammates just don't seem to raise their game and provide their premier all-rounder with the support that he needs. He would be hoping to receive more support from his other teammates in the future, something that would help the Tigers win more games.

#1 Andy Flower

One of the first batsmen to successfully play the reverse sweep and also one of the few very good players of spin bowling outside of the sub-continent. Andy Flower was a prolific run-getter for Zimbabwe.

In a career spanning a decade, the left-hander amassed 4794 runs in 63 Tests at an average of 51.54, with a career-best score of 232 not out that he scored against India at Nagpur in November 2000. Flower was an equally good player in limited-overs cricket as well, scoring 6786 runs in 213 ODIs at an average of 35.34.

He was one of Zimbabwe’s most important batsmen in the middle-order and along with Grant, his brother, put on several key partnerships for his country. But, unfortunately, Flower was part of a Zimbabwean team that did not win a lot of games during that period. Barring his brother Grant, he never got the kind of support that he should’ve and was on the losing side more often that not.