Making like Lazarus

[Prince EWS]

You posting about Pakistan has reminded me how well Misbah fits into this.

He had a little run in the Test side as a young wonderkid with absolutely no success (120 runs @ 13) and I believe he had a fair few ODIs in that period too for equally little to write home about. He got the recall as a T20 specialist of all things for the World Championship in 2006, which he was really good in (despite the infamous wicket that cost them the final) and that - along with his absolutely awesome First Class record - got him somewhat of a surprise recall into the Test squad as a replacement for Inzamam, at 33 years old with an average of 13. Since then he's played 38 Tests for an average over 50, been Pakistan's most consistent batsman in ODI cricket and provided some much needed leadership to a rabble, establishing himself as their best captain in a long time.

Not a bad comeback at all.

 

[grecian]

Alec Stewart perhaps, spent up to his late 20s being a pretty ineffectual bat always throwing it away. 13 matches before he hit his first century, then went on to become a top-class opener, and then a very good wicket-keeper bat.

 

[grecian]

You posting about Pakistan has reminded me how well Misbah fits into this.

He had a little run in the Test side as a young wonderkid with absolutely no success (120 runs @ 13) and I believe he had a fair few ODIs in that period too for equally little to write home about. He got the recall as a T20 specialist of all things for the World Championship in 2006, which he was really good in (despite the infamous wicket that cost them the final) and that - along with his absolutely awesome First Class record - got him somewhat of a surprise recall into the Test squad as a replacement for Inzamam, at 33 years old with an average of 13. Since then he's played 38 Tests for an average over 50, been Pakistan's most consistent batsman in ODI cricket and provided some much needed leadership to a rabble, establishing himself as their best captain in a long time.

Not a bad comeback at all.

You were so hoping someone else would mention Misbah, but you couldn't resist in the end

 

[sledger]

Freddie went from being a bit of a joke to being the lynchpin of the England side.

 

[Prince EWS]

You were so hoping someone else would mention Misbah, but you couldn't resist in the end

I was sure np10 would have mentioned it when I saw he had the last post in here. I know he's a big fan too, so disappointing.

 

[nightprowler10]

I was sure np10 would have mentioned it when I saw he had the last post in here. I know he's a big fan too, so disappointing.

Haha, I posted about Asif and went off on a tangent looking at Indo-Pak scorecards from the '50s and '70s for the last half hour. Didn't even consider the thread topic again. But yeah Misbah is obviously a great shout here.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Jonty Rhodes the test batsman.

Did **** all since a reasonably good debut in tests then completely tapered off and was averaging less than 30 overall by start of 1998 season.

But then shrugged off the "specialist fielder" tag and scored about half of his career runs in the next 2-2.5 yrs at a good average of 45.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Brett Lee. Averaged around 16 in his first two seasons from 6 tests. Then went downhill and averaged about 39 in his next 35 test matches from 2001 through 2005 season. Completely turned round the tables in the next 4 seasons averaging about 25 from 26 tests with 130 wickets. Had a torrid final 2 months where he averaged 48 from 8 tests and was not cosidered for tests again.

 

[hendrix]

 

[salman85]

Hayden anyone? (debut in 1994, didn't become a regular till 2001).

Or for that matter, even Langer? (debut in 1993.Didn't become a regular till 1998)

 

[Daemon]

With some of the players mentioned it's just that they were dropped for a long time and made a really good comeback when the general consensus was that they had a chance of succeeding. There are lots of these examples. What would be more interesting would be to find a parallel to Johnson, i.e someone who was considered really **** by everyone and then suddenly started dominating.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Broad.

 

[Prince EWS]

With some of the players mentioned it's just that they were dropped for a long time and made a really good comeback when the general consensus was that they had a chance of succeeding. There are lots of these examples. What would be more interesting would be to find a parallel to Johnson, i.e someone who was considered really **** by everyone and then suddenly started dominating.

Misbah. He was a 33 year old with a Test average of 13, and he averages 50 since recall, not to mention his captaincy. It counts!

 

[Flem274*]

Both still have a lot to prove, but both BJ Watling and Peter Fulton have done more than anyone dared believe. Even lesser example but Aaron Redmond went from dropped by Otago to the form domestic batsman and a New Zealand recall in 18 months.

Andrew Strauss was almost finished before he scored a ton in Napier. I didn't think I would ever seen Tino Best again either a few years back. Ben Hilfenhaus briefly made a gun comeback after being left for dead.

 

[Daemon]

Misbah. He was a 33 year old with a Test average of 13, and he averages 50 since recall, not to mention his captaincy. It counts!

Haha. Was he considered worthy of the recall by the general public when he made his comeback?

 

[salman85]

With some of the players mentioned it's just that they were dropped for a long time and made a really good comeback when the general consensus was that they had a chance of succeeding. There are lots of these examples. What would be more interesting would be to find a parallel to Johnson, i.e someone who was considered really **** by everyone and then suddenly started dominating.

Johnson's comeback has only lasted 2 test matches mind you.True,he's been spectacular, but you can't base his entire comeback on 2 matches alone.For all we know,he could have a horrible next series,which will make this 'comeback' pretty futile compared to the ones managed by other players in history.

I don't think Langer for example,was ever taken seriously after he was initially discarded.But he managed to come back in fantastic fashion.Never got the credit he deserved though,because he was the ugly duckling in a team of flamboyant stroke players.

 

[akilana]

Dilshan. For the first half of his career he was useless. Once he became an opener he started producing the goods consistently.

 

[benchmark00]

Aaron Redmond actually got mentioned in this thread.

 

[nightprowler10]

Haha. Was he considered worthy of the recall by the general public when he made his comeback?

I'd say nobody cared if he was worthy, we were desperate after a horrible 2007.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Bresnan a decent shout. Got taken to the cleaners by Jayasuriya and co in 06 and was seen as nothing more than a chubby medium pacer with no skills - but has gone very well since.