A sort of McGrath/Anderson syndrome....

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

In a recent series against Sri Lanka, I called up Martin Saggers as a replacement for an out-of-form Andy Caddick and an injured Cork. Saggers had taken 93 FC wickets the year before and had alot of FC experience.

On debut, he proved me a genius, beating the bat ever over and taking 6/63 and 2/54. In the 2nd (and final) Test, he took 3/78 and 5/44. He looked to be headed for a big career.

He took this form into the Natwest series and took 4/21 in 10 overs on debut against SL. He took just 3 wickets for 237 runs in 58 overs for the rest of the series.

Despite he lack of penetration in the ODI's, I picked him for the 1st Test v India. After all, he had started his career so well, I couldn't just drop him... even if Andy Caddick had found form again and Dominic Cork was fit...

His match figures from the first Test - 1/110 off 49 overs. 2nd Test - 5/105 (wrapped up the tail after being 1/98) and 0/17 in a losing effort. Certainly I couldn't drop him after a 5-wicket haul...

3rd Test - 2/79 and 0/75 and finally I had the guts to send him back to Kent to get some wickets.

Has anyone else had a player like this? Someone who started very well and promised alot but faded fast.

 

[nibbs]

In my NZ game I had this C.Chambers chap who took 6/24 in his ODI debut. But after that was a regular but he was never same as his amazing debut.

 

[gibbsnsmith]

i called up harmison who ripped through the aussies and some other teams in his first international season taking 70 wkts in 15 odd tests and hasnt taken a wicket since now he has played 23...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Add to the list Michael Mason and James Franklin.

Also, Sean Ervine. I debuted him as a batsman who I bowled sparingly, but one game I gave him a full spell and he took an incredible 8/43 from his 10. The next 3 games, he took 10 more wickets rather economically. Needless to say, I was thrilled that Zimbabwe might have a quality player for the future, but he then proceeded to settle into typical form going for 8-10 runs in his 3 and 4 over stints. On Test debut, he knocked some decent runs (30-40), but went for over 4.5 an over, without even looking threatening.