Prodigies who came good and the waste men

[trundler]

Every now and then some young cricketer is hyped up to be the next big thing in world cricket. This tag often turns out to be a curse rather than a blessing. Not always does prodigious talent translate into greatness. So which players were hyped as such? Which of them came good and and who were the waste men? Tendulkar and Ponting were both murdering bowlers at junior levels, before murdering them at FC and international levels subsequently. Right now Prithvi Shaw and Will Pucovski are being hyped up. Kambli would be an example of a waste man I suppose.

 

[vcs]

Sachin is the ultimate example of the prodigy who came good. The pressure and hype was really something else, even in a time where media attention and TV wasn't anywhere near as widespread as it is now. Could so easily have let it get to his head before achieving anything, or flamed out after a few glorious years.

 

[trundler]

Yeah, any other Indian or Pakistani cricketer would probably have had a middling career, being picked on 'potential' after that Perth knock. Bradman debuted at 20 too.

 

[harsh.ag]

Ponting should have been given a go at internationals sooner. But then Australia weren't exactly wanting for batting talent like India.

 

[trundler]

Didn't Ponting spend years not out at grade level, or something? Kallis was picked as a teen too.

 

[aussie tragic]

Ponting should have been given a go at internationals sooner. But then Australia weren't exactly wanting for batting talent like India.

Ponting made his Test and ODI debuts when he was 20, which is young for an Aussie batsman. He was also dropped when 21 and only came great on his return so think it was timed pretty well.

 

[Malcolm]

He was only dropped in ODIs.

 

[aussie tragic]

Nah Ponting was dropped after 6 Tests (after 2nd Test vs WI in Sydney Nov 1996)

Note: Elliott, Ponting and Bevan were replaced by Hayden, Langer and S.Waugh for the 3rd Test

 

[trundler]

Pakistan and WI have a habit of debuting young batsmen at #3 before they're ready for international cricket and thus murdering their confidence. I can't think of any off the top of my head since waste men are obviously less memorable than the successes.

 

[harsh.ag]

Pakistan and WI have a habit of debuting young batsmen at #3 before they're ready for international cricket and thus murdering their confidence. I can't think of any off the top of my head since waste men are obviously less memorable than the successes.

This is true. Even when they had Younis and Misbah, Pakistan brought in Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam at 3 and 4.

 

[trundler]

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan quickly fell away after a decent start to his career after being picked at the age of 17. What went wrong there?

 

[ankitj]

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan quickly fell away after a decent start to his career after being picked at the age of 17. What went wrong there?

There is a video of Shiva somewhere on Youtube where he demonstrates how to bowl all leggie variations - googly, top spin, flipper, what have you. Goes to show so much of cricket is played in the mind.

 

[aussie tragic]

Lawrence Rowe is one that didn't carry on. He had 6 centuries (incl. a double and a triple) after 13 Tests with 1266 runs @ 70.33 (and he didn't bat in one of those Tests).

His last 17 Tests he made 781 runs @ 26.93 with only one more ton (an even 100 vs NZ)

 

[trundler]

There is a video of Shiva somewhere on Youtube where he demonstrates how to bowl all leggie variations - googly, top spin, flipper, what have you. Goes to show so much of cricket is played in the mind.

Leg spin is all about confidence especially. If your flighted ones get hit for 4s you'll definitely be rattled. Unless you're a tough **** like Warne.

 

[trundler]

Sobers and Waqar came good too but I very much doubt the latter was 17.

Not sure if Carl Hooper qualifies but wasn't he hyped up a lot as well.

 

[fredfertang]

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan quickly fell away after a decent start to his career after being picked at the age of 17. What went wrong there?

I believe he enjoys a drink, though don't know if that was cause or effect

 

[Kirkut]

Ponting should have been given a go at internationals sooner. But then Australia weren't exactly wanting for batting talent like India.

Australian cricket of 90s was at another level. Remembered watching Laxman getting beaten for pace repeatedly against Prime Minister's XI bowlers.

Also who can forget the severe penalty Damien Martyn had to pay for that shot in 1994?

 

[Kirkut]

Irfan Pathan experimented too much with his bowling. He lost plenty of pace in 2006 but still could swing it huge, instead hit the gym and gained little pace but also sacrificing his swing completely.

 

[Kirkut]

Steven Smith could end up having second best batting average after Bradman for Australia. I see him overtaking Greg Chappell and Ricky Ponting.

 

[Bijed]

Steven Smith could end up having second best batting average after Bradman for Australia. I see him overtaking Greg Chappell and Ricky Ponting.

Reckon he'll most likely end up below Voges