Five cricketers who had a forgettable 2017

As is the case with people from other walks of life, cricketers too experience a fair share of ups and downs in a year. However, at times when things don't go their way, they end up having the kind of year where everything they touch turns to mud.

Let's take a look at five such cricketers who would want to erase the memory of 2017 at the earliest:

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#1 Stuart Broad

Barring 2014, Stuart Broad has picked up at least 40 wickets in every year between 2012 and 2016. His consistency was rewarded when he soared to the top of the ICC rankings in early 2016. In 2017 though, Broad has been nowhere near his best and has seemed innocuous with the ball in hand.

In 10 tests, the lanky English pacer has picked up a mere 25 wickets at an average of close to 40. His bowling has been particularly exposed during the ongoing Ashes series where he has gone wicketless in three of the five complete innings.

In addition to being an incisive bowler, the 31-year old is also a handy lower order batsman with a high score of 169 to his name. However, even his batting performances in 2017 are nothing to write home about as he has been dismissed for single digits in 11 out of 16 innings.

It is no wonder therefore that Broad's place in the English team has been questioned off-late.

#2 Jean-Paul Duminy

Nothing seemed to click for JP Duminy in 2017

Over the last decade or so, JP Duminy has been one of the mainstays of the South African cricket team. His useful contributions with both bat and ball have helped the Proteas win many a match. However, 2017 was a year in which nothing seemed to work for him.

In six tests, Duminy scored 306 runs at an average of 30.60. His only innings of note was the 155 he scored against Sri Lanka earlier in the year. While he picked up four wickets at 32.25 apiece, it is worth noting that each of these wickets came in a single innings.

The 33-year old's constant indifferent showings led to him being axed from the test team following which he announced his retirement from the format.

However, JP did not find any solace in white ball cricket either. In 17 one-days, he scored a paltry 287 runs at an average of 26.09 and a worrisome strike rate of 73.21. His bowling too seemed to be ineffective as he picked up a mere two wickets at a poor average of 103.50.

Given that the new year is around the corner, Duminy will be hoping for a change in fortunes.

#3 Alastair Cook

Runs have dried up for Alastair Cook in 2017

In each of 2015 and 2016, Alastair Cook scored more than a thousand runs. At the end of his 136th test in late 2016, Cook had scored 10839 runs, 39 more than what Tendulkar had scored after 136 tests. Not surprisingly, there were murmurs of the possibility of Cook going on to better Tendulkar's record.

However, as things stand today, the former England captain faces several question marks regarding his place in the side given the horror year that he has endured. In 10 tests, he has scored 655 runs at an average of 34.47. If Cook's innings of 243 against the West Indies is taken out of these numbers, they make for a poorer reading.

In fact, the 32-year old has gone without a fifty for ten innings now. His poor run of form has meant that England haven't really been able to stage a fight against the rampant Australian bowling attack in the ongoing Ashes. With the new year not too far away, Cook will be looking to hold on to his spot in a bid to make a fresh start.

#4 Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane will look to turn a new leaf over in 2018

When India went on a spate of overseas tours between late 2013 and early 2015, Ajinkya Rahane was one batsman who shone in the most testing conditions. Soon after, both pundits and former players remarked that he could be one of India's leading run-scorers in the upcoming home seasons.

Quite uncharacteristically, however, in the comfort of familiar conditions, the 29-year old's blade has gone silent. While he scored an overall 554 runs in 11 tests played in 2017 at an average of close to 35, in eight home tests he scored 325 runs at a sub-par average of 25.

The availability of first choice openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in the fifty overs format has meant that Rahane has been benched in each of the last six one-day internationals. This despite the Mumbai batsman having scored nearly 600 runs in 12 ODI's at an average of nearly 50.

To make matters worse, the Indian vice-captain's father was recently arrested by the Kolhapur Police when his car allegedly mowed down a woman. Given these unfortunate developments, Rahane will be desperately looking forward to turn a new leaf over in 2018.

#5 Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes was at the centre of an unnecessary controversy in 2017

Highlights of Ben Stokes' career in 2017:

-527 runs in 7 tests at an average of 43.92, 16 wickets at an average of 31.31

-Two man of the match awards in Tests for all-round displays against South Africa and West Indies

-616 runs in 15 ODIs at an average of 61.60 and a strike rate of 106.94, 14 wickets and six catches to go with it

-Thrice man of the match in ODIs, including one against Australia in the Champions Trophy

-Became the highest paid overseas player in the IPL when he was picked up by the Rising Pune Supergiants for a whopping Rs 14.5 crores

-Followed it up with an impressive 316 runs at a strike rate of close to 150 (including one century) and 12 wickets

Looking at the eye-catching stats above, it seemed as if 2017 was heading in the right direction for Ben Stokes. England's hopes of retaining the Ashes Down Under laid significantly with their star all-rounder, the closest thing to the great Andrew Flintoff.

However, all of a sudden in September 2017, the 26-year old had an absolute car-crash moment. He was arrested by the police for his involvement in a brawl outside a pub in Bristol. Though he was later released by the police, a video that did the rounds on social media showed him punching a couple of men.

The fiery Durham and English all-rounder was then withdrawn from England's Ashes squad pending the completion of legal proceedings. In his absence, England have been absolutely battered by a clinical Australian team. It is barely a surprise that several pundits and former players are blaming Stokes for England's dismal performance in the ongoing Ashes.