Players you thought wouldn't make it.

[cover drive man]

In contrast to the Players you thought would make it thread this is Players you thought wouldn't make it.

I think Kevin Pieterson.

 

[archie mac]

After watching Mark Taylor in his first Test inings I thought his reflexes far too slow for an opener. He was yorked twice (the first was called a no-ball) by Ambrose and was very late both times. Just a little off the mark!

 

[biased indian]

Dhoni..............

 

[Richard]

Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Symonds (in ODIs) are the only ones I can think of that I've been wrong about.

 

[stumpski]

James Anderson - I thought he was finished after that South African tour tbh.

And I certainly never expected Steve Harmison to take 200 Test wickets, or even 100, based on what I saw in his first few Tests.

 

[Richard]

Harmison certainly hasn't had a successful Test career IMO, and I was correct to not think he'd ever do a lot if you ask me.

 

[cover drive man]

Deleted the duplicate btw.

 

[stumpski]

There's probably ammunition for a new thread, but it's possible to argue that any of England's one-, two- or three-cap wonders (take your pick: Watkin, Bicknell, Igglesden, Benjamin, Williams, McCague etc etc) could have done just as well if they'd also got to play 50-odd Tests. A lot of it is down to luck and the willingness of selectors to persevere with someone after an indifferent start. Caddick was one who made a very poor start to his Test career.

 

[Xuhaib]

Collingwood, Sehwag, Asif (though still early days in his career), Prince, Oram.

 

[DaViet]

i thought zaheer wouldnt make it because of pathan...

I was also darn hopeful watson wouldn't make it, yet they still give him an ozzie contract, ARGHH

 

[Richard]

There's probably ammunition for a new thread, but it's possible to argue that any of England's one-, two- or three-cap wonders (take your pick: Watkin, Bicknell, Igglesden, Benjamin, Williams, McCague etc etc) could have done just as well if they'd also got to play 50-odd Tests. A lot of it is down to luck and the willingness of selectors to persevere with someone after an indifferent start. Caddick was one who made a very poor start to his Test career.

Caddick still had some success in his Test career, though, far more so than Harmison (and that is reflected in their career averages, 29.91 plays 33.48, though those averages tell you little about the two bowlers' careers, needing closer examination) even though I most certainly always felt he could have done so much more (and the same applies to any number of other England seamers of the 1990s - Fraser, Gough, Cork, Headley, White - all had careers of some note, but could have been much better).

 

[andyc]

I was also darn hopeful watson wouldn't make it, yet they still give him an ozzie contract, ARGHH

Probably because he's a gun, tbh.

 

[gettingbetter]

Probably because he's a gun, tbh.

I always hoped Watson didn't make it either.

And 'gun'? Just seems a hyperbole to describe Watson.

 

[Richard]

Can't see how someone with a First-Class batting-average over 50 (to name only the most notable of his achievements to date) isn't being pretty good TBH.

I'm increasingly realising how much flak Watson appears to get, and it seems to beggar belief to me.

 

[gettingbetter]

Geez, I never knew his average was that high. But in all fairness to myself (and other Watson haters), just like Atherton's test average is what it is. Watson's career can't be measured in his statistics.

(Sorry Rich, had to go for the juggular there )

 

[NUFAN]

Brad Hogg in ODIs

 

[Nate]

Paul Collingwood, Ashwell Prince, Michael Clarke, Ashley Giles.

Anyone care to mention Bracken or Clark?

 

[Richard]

Well TBH I always fancied Bracken in ODIs and Clark in Tests - but not the other way around.

BTW, Nath, are you still hopeful of Bracken Test success?

 

[andyc]

Anyone care to mention Bracken or Clark?

Oohh good point about Clark. I remember thinking 'who the hell is he!?' when he was suggested as cover for McGrath during the 2005 Ashes.

 

[sideshowtim]

Clark certainly. I didn't expect him to be terrible, but I certainly didn't expect him to reach the heights he has.