Cricketers who had a blistering start to their careers

Sometimes, a great beginning is all that kickstarts a career. It builds the platform for a player to launch his/her career, it certainly does boost the confidence.Some players start their career in the most blistering fashion. They explode to the scene, like the second-coming of a Big Bang, to make themselves known as the next big thing. Some do justice to their starts and become elite figures of the game. The others, however, disappear into obscurity like the way they lit up the cricket world.Here, we look at some players who exploded to the scene.

#1 Soumya Sarkar

The happening cricketer of world cricket. The 22-year-old is currently the most in form player for The Tigers while opening the innings. He made his debut in November last year and Bangladesh are yet to lose a series in which this man has played.

Since his arrival on the international arena, he has been nothing but spectacular. The only qualm one could have had with him was his habit of getting out after getting good starts. A lot of 30s and 40s weren’t converted and it frustrated some fans as the talent was not being used to its fullest.

But now, after playing 16 ODI games, he has an average of 49.42 and a century against Pakistan and two 85+ knocks against South Africa – showing his ability against the bigger teams. Sarkar has shown that he is no pushover – the periscope shot displays the sheer audacious personality of his.

#2 Michael Hussey

When he hit the international scene, he was already 29 years old. Many great players start considering retirement at that age, but Michael Hussey had just began his journey – and what a start it was.

After the first two years in the Test side, his batting average was a near inhuman 86.18 – Australian fans thought that they had their new Bradman, albeit a left-handed one. He was also the fastest player to reach 1000 Test runs.

His performances in ODIs were even better – if that was possible – as he had an average of over 100 in his first 28 games.

Though the blistering form didn’t last, he ended his career with respectable figures and has gone down in the history books of cricket as one of its great exponents. He is called ‘Mr. Cricket’ for a reason.

#3 Kevin Pietersen

Another player who started his playing career in God mode. He was the name on everyone’s lips for his incredible stroke play and a very flamboyant hairstyle.

In his first 3 ODI innings, he had an average of 104, which got even better when he scored a century against South Africa in the second ODI in England’s tour of South Africa. He scored 2 more centuries and an innings of 75 and was the only positive for the Three Lions in a largely disappointing series which they lost 4-1.

In the following Natwest Triangular series, he displayed how brutally aggressive he can be with the bat and scored 278 in the seven match series with an average of 46.33

In his Test debut, first Ashes Test at Lord’s, he was the top scorer for England in both the innings with 57 and 64* respectively. He finished the Ashes series as top scorer, with 473 runs and an average of 52.55 over the course of 5 Tests.

#4 Ajit Agarkar

He was dubbed as the next Kapil Dev due to his talent with both the bat and the ball. Unfortunately, however, he couldn’t live up to the tag – and the potential that he possessed – as a series of injuries marred his career.

However, the way he began it filled Indian fans heart with hope. Agarkar was fastest to reach 50 ODI wicket. He was the highest wicket-taker in his debut series against Australia and continued to impress as he took an astonishing 22 wickets in the next 8 ODIs.

He also holds the record for the fast player to reach the combination of 200 wickets and a 1000 runs in ODI cricket. If only he built on the start he had, he might have ended up as India’s greatest ever bowler.

#5 Mitchell Starc

If Soumya Sarkar is the most in-form newcomer among batsmen, then Mitchell Starc is the king of the young generation of bowlers.

The name Starc has become a synonym of terror within batsmen as he continues to impress the world with his fine brand of fast bowling. While his Test career may not have taken off as his ODI one, he still remains Australia’s most lethal weapon in the bowling department.

With 83 wickets in 41 ODI matches – a mind-blowing 2 wickets-per-game ratio – he has desecrated numerous batting line-ups. Any batsmen that doesn’t do his homework before facing this man is just asking for trouble. His incredible pace coupled with great control over line and length makes him the most difficult bowler to face.

#6 Shane Bond

The most unfortunate cricketer of modern times. In a career that was ruined by recurring injuries, Shane Bond showed that he might have ended it as the greatest bowler of all time if he was fit. Few bowlers made the impact he did and there perhaps won’t be another one like him.

In his first ever ODI series, the VB Series in 2002, he was the player of the tournament as he took an outstanding 21 wickets in just 9 games. He continued impressing as he was once again the top wicket-taker in his next series against West Indies in the Caribbean.

And then came the World Cup of 2003 where he took 17 wickets at an average of 17.94 – which included the famous fiery spell of 6 for 23 runs against eventual champions Australia. After that, a series of injuries put a stop to his career, but not before he became the 3rd fastest bowler to reach a 100 ODI wickets.

Oh, what could have been.