The most lowly thought of players with truly gun performances.

[ankitj]

Ajantha Mendis in the 2008 series against India.

To be fair Mendis was unplayable in his first 12-18 months. His stats were absolutely shocking - Sydney Barnes level.

 

[ankitj]

i feel like no-one really remembers that colin miller was an actual australian test player of the year

Venkateh Prasad topped the chart for test wickets in 1996 and also won CEAT cricketer of the year award edging out everyone (Akram, Tendulkar etc.). He turned into a very, very good bowler for 6 odd months. His best ever ICC test bowling ranking though is #21 which is about right.

 

[CapeTown Guy]

Dave Callaghan's 169* v New Zealand (6th Match: South Africa v New Zealand at Centurion, Dec 11, 1994 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo)

His only international score of more than 50, a something of a remarkable innings at the time.

 

[Top_Cat]

Butcher's 173not is a decent shout but I'm fairly sure people were saying he had big things ahead when he played his first Test in '93 so it's perhaps not the performance of a guy who wasn't rated but had a day out. Probably Dave Callaghan's 1fiddy had the biggest differential between rating and performance on a day with the bat with Malcolm's the biggest I saw with the ball. Paul Strang vs NZ's strongest batting side ever in '00 a very close second.

Greg Blewett's 214 against South Africa in what was a huge series at the time, set up the series along with Steve Waugh. Plus his two centuries in his first two Tests - he was an enigma, his best was so good. And a pair of 99s... (favourite player when young, so sorry for the overload of Blewy love).

No need to apologise, my friend.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Haha knew there'd be some Blewy acknowledgement when you had posted in the thread.

 

[Top_Cat]

 

[vic_orthdox]

And he's going to be touring the world as long as he lives on the back of his son.

 

[Daemon]

poor technique and needs to work on his fitness. hour or two in the gym wouldn't hurt.

 

[mr_mister]

Butcher's 173not is a decent shout but I'm fairly sure people were saying he had big things ahead when he played his first Test in '93 so it's perhaps not the performance of a guy who wasn't rated but had a day out. Probably Dave Callaghan's 1fiddy had the biggest differential between rating and performance on a day with the bat with Malcolm's the biggest I saw with the ball. Paul Strang vs NZ's strongest batting side ever in '00 a very close second.



No need to apologise, my friend.

he played his first test in '97

 

[jimmy101]

Colin Miller taking 10 wickets against West Indies in 2001 worth mentioning.

 

[mr_mister]

Miller was a good player his whole test career, honestly

 

[OverratedSanity]

Pretty sure hardly any non-indians here will remember Hemang Badani. Elegant left hander who didn't have a huge career, but played this classy innings. If anyone hasn't checked it out, do it. It's majestic.

 

[harsh.ag]

The debut/early-career performances shouldn't count for the purpose of this thread imo. There is too much mystery and one-offishness there. It should be more about performances from relatively established cricketers who weren't rated high. Would be hard pressed to define it, but I think you know when you see it. Agarkar in Adelaide spectacular nominee.

 

[Top_Cat]

he played his first test in '97

Indeed he did. Getting my useless English openers mixed up.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Matthew Sinclair's 2 double centuries and 150 in South Africa

 

[Burgey]

Shakib Al Hasan making 200.

In his career.

 

[jimmy101]

Shakib is a gun. Deserves his spot in the 200 club.

 

[Burner]

I must confess I knew Shakib was a good batsman but didn't quite think he was 'a double century in NZ' good.

 

[indiaholic]

Absolute Rajkot pitch though.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Absolute Rajkot pitch though.

Yeah but he was facing the kiwi Akram