Top 5 One Test Wonders

Lancashire’s Stuart Law retires during a county match in 2006Picture this scenario: you get called up to play Test cricket for your country, perform well and... never play another Test match? For some unlucky players, this is the exact fate they suffered.Whether they were born in a generation of superstars and couldn’t find a permanent place in the side, or whether off-field issues prevented them from representing their country at Test level again, or whether they were instances of plain old diabolical selection decisions were made, these players were chewed up and spat out quicker than a Mitchell Johnson thunderbolt.Without further ado, here are my “Top 5 One Test Wonders.”

#1 Stuart Law

Stuart Law is one of Australia cricket’s unluckiest

Outstanding at First Class level with 27,080 runs at an average of 50.52, Law represented Australia in 54 ODIs. However, he only ever played a single Test match, against Sri Lanka in 1995. Picked as a replacement for the injured Steve Waugh, Law accumulated a tidy 54 not out in his only innings.

Despite his success, he was dropped upon Waugh’s return. As Law was not dismissed in the match, he has the rare distinction of not having a batting average at Test level. Law is considered to have been extremely unlucky, playing in a golden era with a star studded Australian batting order.

#2 Rodney Redmond

New Zealand’s Rodney Redmond, who toured England in 1973

Possibly the most unlucky of all 5 players on this list, left handed Kiwi batsman Rodney Redmond scored 107 and 56 in his only Test appearance against Pakistan in 1972, giving him a batting average of 81.50.

He was selected for New Zealand’s tour of England after his debut game, but after suffering from trouble with his contact lenses and showing indifferent form in lead up matches, Redmond faded away into obscurity and never featured in another Test.

#3 Mick Malone

Mick Malone played is solitary Test for Australia in 1977

Malone had a dream entry to Test cricket in 1977 against England, making 46 with the bat in his only innings and taking 5/63 in the first innings with the ball, as well as 1/14 in the second.

Soon after his debut, the World Series Cricket was formed and Malone signed on, making him ineligible to play Test cricket. He was named 12th man for the Test team when the rebel league players returned, but that was as close as he got to play another match.

Multi-talented, Malone was also a professional Australian Rules player in the winter time.

#4 Andy Ganteaume

The West Indies team of 1957, Andy Ganteaume standing at extreme left

Alongside Rodney Redmond, Andy Ganteaume possesses the feat of scoring a century in his only Test. Selected to play for the West Indies against England in 1948, Ganteaume scored 112 in a rain effected match.

He was heavily criticised for his slow scoring rate, with many people holding him responsible for the Windies failure to win the game. Ganteaume was a part of other tours with the Test squad after his debut but never again played another Test.

The Trinidadian keeper-batsman holds the record for the highest batting average in Test cricket history.

#5 Phil Emery

Phil Emery is considered to be one of Australia’s most reliable wicketkeepers ever

A fine wicketkeeper who had a long and distinguished career for New South Wales at domestic level, Emery was terribly unlucky to play in an Australian era with one of the greatest keepers of all time, Ian Healy.

Emery played his only Test on the 1994/95 tour of Pakistan filling in for an injured Healy and performed solidly, claiming 6 dismissals with the gloves and scoring 8 not out in his only innings.

Unfortunately for Phil, Ian Healy had already established himself as one of the best wicketkeepers around and came straight back into the Test team after recovery from his injury. Emery was then usurped by Adam Gilchrist as the next-in-line Australian wickie for when Healy retired.