Five great players who were extremely inconsistent

Consistency is a key, valuable attribute professionals all around the world strive towards. Inconsistent players often display glimpses of brilliance before fading away miserably.

For professionals plying their trade at the highest level, consistency over the course of their careers requires a great deal of mental toughness.

However talented the players might be, hard work day in and day out is what separates the good from the best.

Here, we take a look at five supremely talented international cricketers widely criticised for their inconsistency.

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#5 Yusuf Pathan

Baroda-born, T20 and ODI World Cup-winning all-rounder, Yusuf Pathan made his mark on the international scene with some breathtaking innings and smart spin bowling in the shortest format of the game.

An explosive batsman, Pathan is a clean striker of the ball and a very handy off-break bowler with a knack of picking up crucial wickets.

However, he has been unable to come up with consistent performances, resulting in him stranded in the wilderness ever since March 2012. Sporadic form in the domestic circuit has also not helped the World Cup winner in gaining a spot back in the national team setup.

Pathan has struggled in all formats of the game and this has seen him drop down the pecking order for selection.

#4 Shahid Afridi

Afridi could be splendid on one day and disastrous on another

Former Pakistani cricket team captain Shahid Afridi staked his claim as one of the most explosive batsmen in international cricket right from the get-go. Having made his debut in 1996, Afridi went on to rack up a whole host of achievements during his 20-year career in the game.

However, inconsistent performances were a major factor in limiting the successes of the Pakistani cricketer. Afridi, widely considered a legend of Pakistani cricket, failed to make a significant impact with the ball when he was dominant with the bat earlier in his career.

Meanwhile, towards the latter stages of his career, he developed and worked hard on his bowling, producing some sensational spells while his batting form dipped and, ultimately, collapsed.

Afridi's unwavering love and passion for the game drove him on to continue representing his country even when woefully out of form, but, earlier this year, he announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing to end an entertaining career.

#3 David Miller

Miller has struggled to establish himself in the South African setup

South Africa middle-order batsman, David Miller burst on to the scene as a young, explosive, big hitting T20 powerhouse. With a string of incredible batting performances for his domestic team, winning games by himself, Miller earned his first international cap in 2010.

An aggressive left-hand bat and slow right-arm spin bowler, Miller displayed fantastic temperament and ability at a young age. Brimming with confidence and excitement, he was hard to stop once he got going.

However, several inconsistent showings over the years have resulted in people raising questions regarding his ability and temperament.

Great striking of the ball notwithstanding, Miller often fails when he needs to get stuck in at the crease and play a long patient innings to steady the ship after the top order has collapsed. With the competition for places intensifying, Miller will have to consistently perform to keep his place on the team.

#2 Glenn Maxwell

Cool and composed Maxwell will need to rediscover his form

Australian top-order batsman and right-arm spinner, Glenn Maxwell earned a reputation as a lethal hitter in the shortest format of the game. Having blown up the cricketing sphere with some sensational knocks early in his career, Maxwell flattered to deceive thereafter, with his form taking a stunning nosedive.

The domestic circuit in Australia was where Maxwell made his mark, although an IPL move followed by an incredible season with the KXIP earned him a call-up to the national setup. A clever cricketer with a plethora of shots in his arsenal, Maxwell's form has continually dipped in the last couple of years.

The Australian batter has struggled to regain and replicate some of his form from 2012 and 2013, although Maxwell does occasionally turn up and when he does, he is a hard man to stop. A deadly bat coupled with the fact that he can pick up wickets, Maxwell will need to rediscover his form to keep his place in the Australian side.

#1 Ahmed Shehzad

Shehzad was supposed to be Pakistan's next big thing

Pakistani right-hand opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad made his professional debut for his country in 2009 against Australia and was tipped to be Pakistan's next cricketing great.

Shehzad won a lot of fans over following some stunning domestic performances, eventually earned a call-up to the national side. However, inconsistent performances coupled with attitude issues have led to the player being placed on the back-burner.

Pakistan and their cricket team have faced numerous challenges in the recent past but have managed to produce some brilliant players despite all the controversies surrounding the team.

Shehzad was also in the thick of the things when the PCB decided to axe him and Umar Akmal from the national side in 2016 after a string of poor scores. However, the young cricketer has time on his side and the chance to redeem himself on the international stage with consistent performances for his country.

A talented youngster, Shehzad has what it takes to propel himself to the top of world cricket provided he focuses on the primary objective at hand - winning games for his team.