5 most overrated Test cricketers since 2000

#1 Mohammad Ashraful

Mohammad Ashraful is arguably the most over-hyped cricketer produced by Bangladesh

Having joined the Test fold in 2000, the Bangladeshi populace yearned for a batting hero capable of turning games on a regular basis. They began to rejoice when a 17-year old right-hander strode into the limelight during the 2001 Asian Test Championship. With a sparkling century on debut against a Sri Lankan bowling attack containing the feared Muralitharan, Mohammad Ashraful announced himself on the big stage.

Ashraful had to wait for more than three years before making his second Test ton. While he could play all around the wicket, his perennial issues around the off-stump prevented his growth in the format. During a brief period in the 2006/07 season, it seemed like he had finally turned a corner. However, his success turned out to be short-lived as those bouts of inconsistency returned to haunt him.

Extra Cover: Mohammad Ashraful - The story of a prodigious talent gone in vain

Lack of alternatives meant that Ashraful had the fortune of playing as many as 61 Tests. A tally of 2737 runs at a woeful average of 24 is as bad as it gets. In fact, his average of 15.53 from 22 matches is the worst among all specialist batsmen (with at least 20 matches) in Tests held outside Asia. To make matters worse, he admitted to spot-fixing during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and was consequently ostracized within the Bangladesh setup. At 33 years and counting, Ashraful's international career appears to be all but over.