Players who had careers that started off gun...

[stumpski]

Three batsmen that started out as perhaps the best in the world but were merely very good after that:

Arthur Morris
Denis Compton
Dougie Walters

First and last fair enough perhaps, but Compo is an all-time great in my book. Knee problems limited his effectiveness in the 50s, and he also went on a final tour to South Africa when in hindsight his place should have gone to a younger player. Blew a bit hot and cold in Australia admittedly.

 

[G.I.Joe]

The entire Sri Lankan cricket team. Many guns, in fact.

 

[fredfertang]

Neil Harvey averaged 106 after his 9th Test but ended up with a "mere" 48 so could fit the profile

Agree 100% with David - Compo the Great

 

[zaremba]

Dwayne Smith

 

[Ilovecric]

Jimmy Adams

 

[Sir Alex]

Azharrudin

Started career with centuries in first 3 tests (a record), banned for life for match fixing and finally hit rock bottom when he became a politician

From the penthouse to the ****house in no time at all

I don't think becoming a Member of Parliament in India is hitting rock bottom. I think it is a second innings for him. It shows he is still popular with the muslim people in India.

 

[Perm]

Being a politician is about as low as you can go, so stfu.

 

[Goughy]

Without wanting to search the thread and Ill bet he has already been mentioned, Ian Botham

Cant think of a better example. Decent from God to girth.

 

[Bahnz]

Hamish Marshall. 18 months of stunning success followed by 2 years of abysmal failure.

 

[Top_Cat]

The entire Sri Lankan cricket team. Many guns, in fact.

Worst. Pun. Ever.

 

[Flem274*]

Hamish Marshall. 18 months of stunning success followed by 2 years of abysmal failure.

Beat you to it.

Wierd player was Marshall.

 

[Bahnz]

Beat you to it.

Wierd player was Marshall.

Not that weird. International bowlers just eventually worked out how shocking his defence was outside the line of off stump, and exploited it. The number of times he was nicked out into the slips in his last year or so was shocking. Didn't help that Bracewell kept him in the team until his confidence and technique had been completely decimated either.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Worst. Pun. Ever.

And here I was thanking my lucky stars that nobody had seemed to notice it

 

[stumpski]

Name from the past that most here won't (but some might) remember - Peter Toohey. The 'find' of the 1977-78 season for Australia, one of the new players who took the place of the WSC crowd. He scored consistently against India and West Indies (despite missing two Tests after suffering two injuries in the same innings at Port-of-Spain) culminating in him scoring 122 and 97 in the final match to see Australia to a win. The following season he was all at sea against England's bowlers managing just one substantial innings (and seven single-figure scores) in five Tests. Being labelled 'the new Doug Walters' probably did him no favours.

 

[Burgey]

Name from the past that most here won't (but some might) remember - Peter Toohey. The 'find' of the 1977-78 season for Australia, one of the new players who took the place of the WSC crowd. He scored consistently against India and West Indies (despite missing two Tests after suffering two injuries in the same innings at Port-of-Spain) culminating in him scoring 122 and 97 in the final match to see Australia to a win. The following season he was all at sea against England's bowlers managing just one substantial innings (and seven single-figure scores) in five Tests. Being labelled 'the new Doug Walters' probably did him no favours.

Top shout

 

[Sir Alex]

Jaques Rudolph can also be considered in this list. He started his career with 222* but subsequently went astray.

 

[aussie]

Jaques Rudolph can also be considered in this list. He started his career with 222* but subsequently went astray.

Well it was againts Bangladesh of all people haa. I reckon he could have been in the SA test XI today if it weren't for the quota system they got though.

 

[Sir Alex]

Well it was againts Bangladesh of all people haa. I reckon he could have been in the SA test XI today if it weren't for the quota system they got though.

I hope you are joking. Rudolph averaged 27.6 in his last 19 test matches. And 26 in his last 10 matches with one 100 and 1 50 in 20 innings.

 

[elcid]

didnt Dwayne Smith blaze a century in his debut test against South Africa....we all know what happened after

 

[wpdavid]

A couple of English contenders

Tim Robinson had a good debut tour of India in 1984/5 and a good enough debut ashes series in 1985. We thought we had real find at the top of the order, having spent a few years playing guys like Tavare and Randall out of position there. Then he had a nightmare in the WI and never recovered form or confidence.

Nick Cook took some substantial hauls in his first few tests but things petered out quickly thereafter.

Both ended up taking the rand on Gatt's 'rebel' 1989 tour iirc, which was a sad way to finish.