The Unlucky XI: A team of ODI stars born in the wrong era

When Australia took on England at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 5 1971, not many could have predicted the birth of a sporting revolution. While the first ever ODI was a 40-overs-a-side contest, the format has gradually evolved over time to occupy a significant place in the game. It remains a travesty that countless stalwarts of yore missed out on bestriding the limited-overs arena.

In this segment, let us assemble a star-studded ODI lineup comprising players who were unlucky to be plying their wares in the wrong era. Apart from those popular cricketers who played during the primitive era of the format, this team also contains players whose careers were cut short due to heavy competition for spots. These talented cricketers could have been ODI greats in a parallel universe.

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#5 Openers

Farokh Engineer was a star much ahead of his time

Among the few world-class cricketers in the Indian team during the 1960s and early 1970s, Farokh Engineer was an integral part of the successes enjoyed by the fabled spin quartet. His wicket-keeping skills on turning tracks were almost impeccable. The right-hander also opened the batting for the vast majority of his Test career. Such a combination could have made him an ODI star too. The absence of limited-overs cricket during his peak restricted his ODI career to just five appearances.

Bevan Congdon was New Zealand's first great captain. His strong leadership skills endeared him to Kiwi cricket aficionados during their bleak phase of the early 1970s. Although he staunchly based his game on technique and temperament, he could also take the attack to the opposition bowlers. An average of 56.33, with a century and two fifties in 11 matches, may offer a glimpse of his ODI prowess.

#4 Middle-order

Brad Hodge did not get many opportunities because of stiff competition for spots

While contemplating the greatest ODI batsmen of all time, one name usually flies beneath the radar. Before Sir Viv Richards carved a niche for himself, Zaheer Abbas was arguably the best batsman during the formative years of the limited-overs format. The elegant Pakistani featured in 62 ODIs and amassed 2572 runs at an impressive average of 47.62 and remarkable strike-rate of 84.80. Had be debuted a decade later, Abbas could have played plenty more matches and thus collected a sizeable sample set of his ability.

One of the many victims of the fierce contest for spots in the Australian team of the late 1990s and mid-2000s, Brad Hodge's international career lasted just 6 Tests, 25 ODIs, and 15 T20Is. The technically proficient right-hander's journey overlapped with the progression of the most intimidating batting lineup in ODI history. As a consequence, he found opportunities to be incredibly sparse at the national level.

David Hussey is best known for his exploits in the various T20 leagues across the globe. However, the shrewd right-hander could have earned a reputation as a reliable 50-over batsman as well. Despite making his List A debut in 2001 and carrying on until 2014, intense competition for places in the Australian setup curtailed his ODI career to 69 appearances. A strike-rate of 90.70 stands as the testament to his dynamic capacity in the business stages of the innings.

#3 All-rounders

Sir Garry Sobers was the quintessential multi-dimensional cricketer

If one were to envisage a dream cricketer capable of dominating with both bat and ball across all formats, Sir Garry Sobers would be the closest candidate. The legendary Barbadian is widely considered as the game's greatest ever all-rounder in Tests. Be it thrashing the most menacing of bowlers, taking the new-ball, choking opposition batsmen or plucking mesmerizing catches, he would tick every box in the 50-over format. If only ODIs existed during his prime.

Having entered the 50-over rankings and secured a place in the 2020/22 ICC ODI League, the near future promises to comprise at least 24 ODIs for the Netherlands. All-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who will wade into his 40s by that time, should be wondering if he was born too early. Among all batsmen with at least 1000 runs in the history of the format, his average of 67 (acquired over 33 matches) is the best by some distance.

#2 Bowlers

Amit Mishra has had to compete with different generations of prolific spinners

When Amit Mishra made his List A debut as a teenager in the 2001/02 season, the iconic Anil Kumble was at the peak of his prowess. The spin mantle then passed on to Harbhajan Singh and then to the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite his propensity to generate enticing flight and turn, Mishra only came into the equation in case of injuries. 64 wickets at a commendable average of 23.60 vindicates his white-ball skills. With the emergence of younger alternatives, the veteran is unlikely to add to his 36 ODI caps.

A dream Test debut, in which he picked up 11 wickets, earmarked Mohammad Zahid as the next Pakistani pace sensation during the 1996/97 international season. However, the presence of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar meant that opportunities were few and far in between. The bustling pacer played the last of his 11 ODIs in 2002.

In an ODI career spanning from 2009 to 2011, Doug Bollinger played 39 matches and collected 62 scalps at an excellent average of 23.90 and solid economy-rate of 4.57. While the ubiquitous presence of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee delayed his debut, the left-arm seamer later struggled to stave off the emergence of younger quicks like Mitchell Starc. Bollinger announced his retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this year.

During the 1980s, the Caribbean region boasted of countless quality speedsters who themselves could have filled almost every other international team as well. At first glance, Tony Gray's career numbers make for astonishing reading. The Trinidadian picked up 44 wickets from 25 ODIs at an average of 18.97 and economy-rate of 3.94. Gray had the misfortune of competing with the likes of Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose among others.

#1 12th Man and Full Lineup

Derek Randall is one of the greatest fielders of all time

England's Derek Randall takes up the 12th man spot in this lineup. The multifaceted cricketer played just 49 ODIs between 1976 and 1985. He scored 1067 runs at an average of 26.67. Much more than his batting, his immaculate fielding made him a standout cricketer in an era where ground-fielding standards had not evolved much. If only he was born a decade later, Randall could have been England's version of Jonty Rhodes.

The Unlucky ODI XI: Farokh Engineer (wk), Bevan Congdon (c), Zaheer Abbas, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Sir Garry Sobers, Ryan ten Doeschate, Amit Mishra, Mohammad Zahid, Doug Bollinger and Tony Gray

12th Man: Derek Randall