10 Cricketers who need to step up before the end of the year

There are good cricketers and there are bad cricketers. Amongst good cricketers, there are those who perform often and those who frustrate often. But, some always frustrate a lot more than others, because as delightful as they are to the audience, their potential always seems to have been under-utilised.Cricket isn’t an easy game, considering one mistake can cost you a lot. But, some often end up paying more for their mistakes, some never learn from their mistakes. There are quite a few supremely talented players going around who haven’t performed to everyone’s liking. Chances are running out fast and if they continue on the path they are on, they might well find themselves out of favour.Here is a list of 10 players, who are gifted but haven’t really contributed to the team’s cause in a big way, some in Tests and some in ODIs.

#1 Ian Bell

Ian Bell with the Ashes urn

Ian Bell looks like a batsman whose bat understands how to talk to the ball, coax it to do its bidding. His silken touch is a delight to watch. Yet, Bell is inconsistent, sometimes overtly casual. He scores sublime half-centuries and then loses his wicket.

In the last two years, Bell has played 39 innings in which he scored 1082 runs. Two centuries and eight half-centuries makes for 10 useful innings, which is about a fourth of his appearances. That is slightly above average for the average batsman but not impressive for someone of Bell’s class.

More importantly, he averages 29.24 in Tests. While he has done fine in ODIs, a young side means he has to struggle for his place. But in Tests, time is running out on Bell before clamours for his retirement start arriving.

#2 Mitchell McClenaghan

McClenaghan’s wickets have come at an expensive price

Mitchell McClenaghan is a talented bowler. He is a spirited bowler too. He gives it his all. However, McClenaghan is just as capable of a burst of excellent bowling as he is of leaking runs and big overs.

In ODIs, he has played 33 matches in the last two years. A natural wicket-taker, he has taken 47 wickets during this period. Three four wicket hauls is above average but he goes at 36.65 per wicket at an economy of 6.36. That is the highest economy rate in ODIs amongst the top 50 wicket-takers in the last two years.

In other words, McClenaghan takes wickets but goes for plenty. The New Zealand bowling unit is bustling these days with a lot of options. Trent Boult and Tim Southee swing the ball. Adam Milne can cross 150kph with ease. Matt Henry can crank it up as well. McClenaghan has his job cut out if he needs to cement his place as a consistent seam bowling option for New Zealand.

#3 Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler with the Ashes urn

Jos Buttler is extremely talented and has been offered a very long rope by the England team. But, Jonny Bairstow keeps wickets too and England cannot hold the dynamic batsman for long if he continues to perform like he did in the Ashes.

In 20 innings in 13 Tests Buttler has 596 runs at 35.05. Five half-centuries is not bad for a wicket-keeper, but sooner than later, Buttler needs to score a century if he has to be taken as a serious wicket-keeper at Test level.

In ODIs Buttler has been brilliant with an average over 40 at a strike-rate of 113 which is more than impressive for someone batting lower down the order. That will save Buttler for a while and help him keep his place in Tests. Yet, sooner than later, a century in white is due from the swashbuckling gentlemanly player.

#4 Shane Watson

The path is difficult for Shane Watson

Shane Watson lost his Test spot recently to Mitchell Marsh in the Ashes. Watson, still a member of the ODI XI, having featured in the World Cup winning Australian team averages 38 in the shorter format with 917 runs in 27 innings with 10 wickets, in the last two years.

In Tests, he hasn’t been impressive at all, scoring 733 runs at close to 32 in 24 innings with a century and four fifties. He has taken just 11 wickets at 44 during this time, numbers that have lost him the coveted all-rounders’ spot in the team. Watson is headed towards an early retirement in Tests unless he shows some desperation to win that spot back.

However, with a predominant front foot batting style and a massive vulnerability to balls that swing inwards sharply, the path is tough for Watson. It doesn’t help that he has a fragile body, which makes him conscious of compensating with the ball on the field.

#5 Umar Akmal

Umar Akmal has faded out even before reaching his prime

At one point, he was considered the next big thing in Pakistan batting. He is fading now even before his prime. Akmal has talent without a shade of doubt, but he hasn’t exactly converted that potential into runs. He is not a regular in the Test side anymore and his ODI numbers don’t inspire much confidence either.

Umar has 737 runs in the last two years from 33 innings at an average of 26.32 and a strike-rate of 87.21, not numbers you will associate with a talented middle-order batsman. Akmal is a pure batsman too which makes it worse for him to hold his position.

His overall ODI average is 34.67, which means he is headed in the wrong direction in recent times; which is not great news for him or for Pakistan cricket now that two of their big names, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi have called it a day in ODI cricket.

#6 Thissara Perera

Thissara Perera is still to make himself a fixture in the Test side

He is a regular in the Sri Lankan ODI side, considering he is a big-hitting all-rounder who can bowl the heavy ball. However, in the last two years, Perera hasn’t played too many of his flashy innings. In 35 innings, he has scored just 533 runs at an average of 17 which is way too less for someone who is competing for the all-rounder’s spot.

In 45 ODIs, Perera has taken 40 wickets at 41.75 at an economy rate of 6.09. Those are not good numbers and while Sri Lankan ODI side has some place due to exodus of seniors, Perera is not making a great case for himself at the moment.

For a man of his capability, Perera who has played 108 ODIs, should have collected more than just the 6 Test caps he has so far.

#7 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has been given a long rope already

Rohit Sharma should consider himself lucky for the number of chances that have come his way. He was made India’s No.3 ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara and when he didn’t succeed, he was given the No.5 spot with Ajinkya Rahane promoted to the tough role of a No.3. He managed couple of critical half-centuries and finished behind Virat Kohli in runs scored.

In the last two years, Rohit has scored 870 runs in 25 innings at 37.8. For a man supremely talented, Rohit Sharma’s numbers and more importantly dismissals, do no justice. Interestingly, Sharma has turned a corner in ODIs where he has scored 1754 runs in 35 ODIs at a stunning average of 56.5 and a strike rate of 95 with a 50+ score every 2.7 innings, which is really impressive.

However, time is running out for him in Tests and he needs to play at least one big knock in the next Test series at home against South Africa, if he even manages to find a place.

#8 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh has now been overtaken by his younger brother Mitchell Marsh in the pecking order

Shaun Marsh has had a stop-start career, sometimes plagued by bad form, sometimes plagued by injuries. Once a future star in Australian cricket, Marsh is now at the risk of fading away, after he frittered away the lone opportunity at the recently concluded Ashes. In the last two years, Marsh has played 8 Tests and in the 16 innings has scored 560 runs at 37.33.

A century and three half-centuries in 16 innings isn’t really enough if you are fighting for a place in the Australian team, especially when you have a tendency to often fall very early in the innings. Marsh has had nine ODI appearances in 2 years where he has averaged an impressive 57 but the timing of injuries has ensured he has always been on the fringes, now overtaken by his brother Mitchell Marsh in the pecking order.

At 32, he is already on the wrong side of 30 and the dashing left-hander could well push for a last hurrah before oblivion beckons.

#9 Lahiru Thirimanne

Thirimanne has had a horrible last couple of years

One of the budding batsmen in the Sri Lankan side, Thirimanne has been earmarked for great things especially when greats like Jayawardene and Sangakkara move into the twilight of their careers. But, in the last two years, he has had a terrible time, scoring just 427 runs in 24 innings of 12 Tests at an average of 19.40 with just two 50s.

Lahiru Thirimanne played couple of crucial knocks for Sri Lanka in the recently concluded series against India. He has been better in ODIs scoring 1386 runs in 42 innings at 38.50 although a strike-rate of 75 for that average isn’t good news.

Given Sri Lanka’s paucity when it comes to good batsmen, he might get a longer rope but it is about time he repays the faith of his seniors and selectors.

#10 Rangana Herath

Herath’s last hurrah

Rangana Herath is a surprising name on the list, but in the last one year, Sri Lanka’s best spinner has averaged 46.88, taking 18 wickets in 11 innings with just one five-wicket haul. He was instrumental in the first Test Sri Lanka won against India but that was his only impressive performance in an otherwise lacklustre series.

If you consider the last two years, Herath has 78 wickets from 16 Tests at 32 apiece, which means he is following up a great year with a poor one. Age is not on his side, which means he has to get his act right in the next few months as making a comeback this late in the career will never be easy.