5 talented cricketers who have gone off the radar

There is an old adage in English that goes: “Well begun is half done.” Quite clearly, it means that a good start can take you only halfway through. Thereafter, one needs to build on that start to last until the end.This adage jolly well applies in the cricketing world too. There have been several instances of cricketers kicking off their career in grand style and then falling by the wayside.Let’s take a look at 5 such players in recent times who have gone off the radar after beginning their career with a bang:

#1 Nasir Jamshed

Last International Appearance: December 2014

When a batsman is branded as the ‘New Inzamam-ul-Haq’, he certainly has to be quite talented. There is absolutely no doubt that Nasir Jamshed has oodles of it. In fact, he lived up to the reputation at the beginning of his career as he scored runs at will against almost every opponent he faced.

In ODIs, he had an enviable record against arch rivals India as he managed to register a score of 50 or more in each of his first four innings against them, with three of these being hundreds.

Tests

Though Jamshed had an incredible start to his ODI and T20I career, he struggled in the couple of Tests that he featured in. He managed to score a mere 51 runs at a dismal average of 12.75. In fact, 3 of his 4 innings were single-digit scores. As a result of this, he did not get an opportunity to play any further Tests.

ODIs

As mentioned above, the 25-year old had a bright start to his ODI career. Up until 2012, it seemed like he could not put a foot wrong as his record read 815 runs in 20 games at an average of 47.94 and a strike rate of 92.09. He was tipped to be the future of Pakistan’s batting.

However, things have changed drastically ever since and he has endured a very tough time over the last couple of years. In ODIs played since 2013, Jamshed has mustered a mere 598 runs at a subpar average of 23.92. His strike rate too has fallen drastically as it stands at a dismal 61.45. This significant dip in form has led to his rejection from Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup.

T20Is

The Pakistan opener’s T20I career followed the same pattern as his ODI career. While he had a very good year in 2012 wherein he accumulated 263 runs at an average of 26.30 and a strike rate of 121.19. His form deserted him in 2013 as he scored only 100 runs in 7 games at an average of 14.28 and a strike rate of 97.08 in the year. He, therefore, fell out of favour and was not part of Pakistan’s team for the World T20 in 2014.

The Way Back

Given that Jamshed is just 25 years old, he certainly has every chance to resurrect his career. Moreover, he is indeed a very talented batsman and has done well in the past. A couple of good seasons in the domestic circuit should hold him in good stead and he could work his way back into the Pakistan team.

#2 Michael Lumb

Last International Appearance: March 2014

When Michael Lumb donned the England shirt for the first time in the World T20 in 2010, it seemed like his years of hard work in England’s county circuit had paid off. He had a decent tournament with the bat as he scored 137 runs at an average of almost 20 and an impressive strike rate of 141.24. In almost every game, he got England off to a quick start and was one of the major reasons behind England’s success in the tournament.

ODIs

Though Joe, as Lumb is nicknamed, made his T20I debut in 2010, he had to wait for 4 long years to get his first ODI cap. He made it count yet again as he slammed a ton on debut. Overall, he has played just 3 ODIs till date scoring 165 runs at an average of 55 and a strike rate of 81.28.

Soon after his maiden ODI series, he picked up an injury in the Natwest Championship. His absence from the national team also coincided with the emergence of new stars like Moeen Ali and Gary Ballance. This has led to his exclusion from England’s squad for the World Cup in spite of him being in decent form since his injury comeback.

T20Is

Early in his career, the 34-year old had been branded as a T20 specialist and he pretty much lived upto that name. Up until 2013, Lumb scored 383 runs at an average of 22.52 and a strike rate of 137.76. However, things did not go his way in 2014 as he scored 169 runs in 9 games at an average of 18.77 and a strike rate of 125.18.

His showing in the World T20 was particularly bad as he scored a mere 57 runs in 4 games at an average of 14.25 and a strike rate of 111.76. He was subsequently dropped from England’s T20 team.

The Way Back

At the age of 34, Lumb will have a difficult time in his attempt to get back into the English team as he does not have a lot of time on his side. Moreover, the youngsters who have come into the team have done a decent job thus far.

However, on the brighter side, he is doing well in the domestic leagues that he is playing in. In fact, with an aggregate of 230 runs he is amongst the top run-scorers in the Big Bash League this season.

#3 Matthew Wade

Last International Appearance: November 2014

A player of Adam Gilchrist’s stature is irreplaceable to say the least. However, the way Matthew Wade performed in his first few games, it looked like Australia had found someone who could be at par with Gilchrist’s quality. Such was his impressive form early on, that he almost shut the door on Brad Haddin, a player who had been tipped to be Gilchrist’s successor.

Tests

Owing to his impressive showing in his first few limited overs fixtures, Wade earned his Test call-up for Australia’s tour of West Indies. He had a decent maiden Test series as he scored 198 runs at an average of almost 40, including a hundred. He followed this up with some good performances in the home Test series against South Africa and Sri Lanka as well. However, Wade had a real tough time on the tour of India in 2013 as he scored a mere 113 runs in 3 Tests at a dismal average of 18.83.

For the 2013 Ashes, Australia went in for a more experienced campaigner in Haddin as Wade was left out of the playing eleven. Though Haddin had a tough time on the tour of England, the Australian team management stuck with him for the reverse series down under.

The right-handed batsman repaid the team management’s faith as he ended up as the second highest run-scorer in the series with an aggregate of 493 runs at an excellent average of 61.63. He was equally impressive behind the stumps as he effected 22 dismissals in the series.

All this led to Wade falling down the pecking order for Australia’s Test squad.

ODIs

The 27-year old made his ODI debut in the home tri-series against India and Sri Lanka in 2012. He had a decent run in the series as he scored 341 runs at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 76.62. However, his form tapered off quite significantly after the tri-series.

Though the team management persisted with him for quite a long time and tried him out at different positions in the batting order, Wade never really delivered the kind of performances that would justify his spot in the squad. He, therefore, gradually fell out of favour as Haddin reemerged as an option.

Wade has also not been included in Australia’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.

T20Is

Wade made his way into the Australian team on the back of his strong showing in the BBL. He did this reputation of his no harm as he had a couple of good T20I home series vs South Africa and India at the beginning of his career.

Against India, he was the highest run-scorer of the series with an aggregate of 104 runs in two games at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 144.44. However, this remains the only brightest spot of his T20I career as his form in T20Is went awry.

In fact, after that series against India, he hasn’t been able to register a single score in excess of 20 in the 18 T20Is he has played. This has led to him being replaced by Haddin.

The Way Back

Though Wade has gone off the radar, he has a more than a decent chance of making his way back into the Australian team. At 27, he still has a lot of cricket left in him.

Moreover, Haddin, who replaced him is 37 years old and is surely bound to retire in a year or so. Also, Wade has been in decent form in the BBL this year as he has scored 168 runs at an average of 21 and a strike rate of 117.48. So, it is just a matter of time before this talented wicketkeeper-batsman makes a comeback.

#4 James Pattinson

Last International Apperance: March 2014

James Pattinson is a perfect example of how an injury-prone body can lead to a fast bowler’s undoing. He is one of the most talented fast bowlers to have come out of Australia in recent years. He bowls at a very good pace, bowls in good areas and can swing the ball both ways. However, his career has been so injury plagued that he is yet to last a full series consisting of 3 Tests or more.

Tests

Pattinson had a dream start to his Test career as he picked up 14 wickets in his first series against New Zealand. He clinched fifers in the two games in the series and finished as the leading wicket-taker.

For his performances, he was adjudged the Man of the Series. He carried this form into the Test series against India as well and picked up a 4-fer in each of the opening two Tests. However, an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the series.

Ever since his comeback from injury in April 2012, the 24-year old has played a mere 9 Tests. In these 9 Tests, he has managed just one 5-fer. Moreover, he has been more of an in-and-out player owing to a few more injuries he has picked up. Also, he had a run-in with the Australian team management on the tour of India and faced a one-match suspension.

The resurgence of Mitchell Johnson and the emergence of Mitchell Starc have also contributed to Pattinson being out of the team

ODIs

Though Pattinson had a phenomenal start to his Test career, he did not have a particularly impressive run in ODIs. Just like his Test career, his ODI career too has had more of a start-stop nature owing to the injuries he has often picked up

After making his debut in April 2011, he has played just 13 ODIs till date. Overall, he has picked up 16 wickets at an average of 35.75 and an economy rate of 5.39. He last featured in an ODI in January last year and has not been included in Australia’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.

T20Is

Pattinson hasn’t played in too many T20Is either as he has featured in just 4 games since making his T20I debut in 2011. In 4 games, he has picked up just 3 wickets at an average of 34.66 and an economy rate of 8.

The Way Back

Without a semblance of a doubt, Pattinson is a very good fast bowler. However, he will have to significantly work on his fitness to have any chance of making a comeback in the Australian team.

Given that he is just 24 years old, he also has time on his side to turn things around. One can only hope that he actually does make a comeback and leaves fans spellbound with his exhibition of swing bowling again.

#5 Craig Kieswetter

Last International Appearance: January 2013

Given that the English are the inventors of cricket, they like their cricket to be played in a very traditional manner. That exactly is the reason why unconventional players are hard to come by from England.

Craig Kieswetter, born in South Africa, came through the ranks in English cricket and won over many fans even with his unconventional, yet effective style of play.

ODIs

Kieswetter made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2010. In just his 3rd game in English colours, he notched up his maiden ODI century. Given that England had a pretty stable wicketkeeper-batsman in Matt Prior at that time, Kieswetter’s opportunities were usually restricted to matches against minnows or the ones in which Prior would be unavailable.

However, after Prior’s LOI retirement post the 2011 World Cup, Kieswetter became England’s regular first choice wicketkeeper.

It seemed like the 27-year old was enjoying the responsibility as he scored 486 runs at an average of almost 33 and a strike rate of 100.61. In almost every game, he got England off to a flying start at the top of the order.

However, things started to go haywire for him in 2012 as he has scored just 245 runs in 18 ODIs thereafter at an average of 30.62. His average was mainly boosted by a few unbeaten knocks that he played lower down the order. In fact, Kieswetter hasn’t registered a single 50+ score in any of the ODIs he has played in since 2012. The emergence of Jos Buttler, a batsman of the same playing style as Kieswetter, led to the latter’s ouster from the team.

T20Is

Kieswetter made his T20I debut in the World T20 in 2010. He had a dream tournament as he finished fourth on the list of highest run scorers with an aggregate of 222 runs at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 116.84.

In fact, it was his aggressive knock of 63 off just 49 balls in the final that set up the game in England’s favour. He was also adjudged the Man of the Match for this knock of his. He carried this form into 2011 as well as he scored 102 runs in 5 games at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 115.91.

However, things started to fall apart for the 27-year old in 2012 as he had some really disappointing returns in his T20 outings. Leading upto the World T20 in 2012, Kieswetter had scored just 141 runs in 7 games at an average of 20.14 and a strike rate of 110.16.

In the World T20, he could not repeat his heroics from the previous World Cup as he scored a mere 39 runs in 3 games at an average of 13 and scored at less than run-a-ball. He was therefore dropped from the team and was replaced by Buttler.

The Way Back

Let alone a comeback, Kieswetter’s career itself has been threatened by an injury he picked up in a county game against Northamptonshire in the previous season. Given the kind of talent he is, one can just hope that his injury does not finish off his career and that he can make a comeback to competitive cricket.