10 Most Underappreciated Players in Cricket History

Javagal Srinath consistently shone in difficult conditions

India: Javagal Srinath (236 wickets @ 30.49)

Being a pace bowler in India is a thankless task. Many of the game's greatest pace bowlers have struggled with the pitches and the weather, making those who have found success there all the more worthy of praise.

Despite leading India's pace attack for the best part of a decade, Srinath doesn't often receive the recognition he deserves. This is because Srinath's record can't be fully appreciated until put in context.

Only three Indian pace bowlers have more Test wickets than Srinath: Kapil Dev, Zaheer Khan, and Ishant Sharma. Yet of the four, Srinath's bowling average is second only to Kapil Dev's, whose is fractionally better at 29.65.

Furthermore, while Khan and Sharma averages in India are 35.88 and 33.60 respectively, Srinath's average in India was just 26.61.

Srinath was also very consistent, particularly from 1998 to 2001, where he averaged between 26 and 28 with the ball for four years running.

During these years, it was India's batting line-up that captured the imagination, but Srinath's role in leading the team's pace attack made him one of their most crucial players.

He also played in an era of great pace bowlers, such as Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Glenn McGrath and Alan Donald. Srinath, therefore, may have been overshadowed by his fellow pace bowlers, even though they spent most their time in conditions that were far more favourable to their craft.