Cricketers you hated when they played but respect more post-retirement

[subshakerz]

As the title suggests...

An obvious one for me would be Kallis. Never liked his style of play, so stiff and artificial, and thought he was massively overrated but after retirement and seeing SA's downslide, I have come to appreciate how vital a role he played in their side and his understated achievements.

Tendulkar was another whom I always wished failed for partisan reasons but grew to appreciate having the honor of watching what I consider the best batsman since Bradman.

Michael Atherton was another who seemed like an absolute milquetoast loser of a bat when I first saw him, and emblematic of England's 90 mediocrity. Only later did I appreciate he probably had one of the toughest batting assignments in cricket history as an opener facing all those 90s pacers.

 

[_Ed_]

I think Ponting is an obvious one for me. Quickly seemed not so bad in hindsight, compared to Clarke and co, and has turned into an excellent commentator.

 

[Shady Slim]

this is the thread for every australian who sooked about watto ad nauseum to offer a full and final mea culpa for their actions

 

[_Ed_]

Yeah, Watto is another good one. Seems a thoroughly likeable bloke these days.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Shane Watson for sure

Insane in hindsight how he was viewed by the public, never realising how good he was until after his career. Genuine ATG white-ball cricketer and serviceable Test player (when fit). However didn't do himself any favours with his embarrassingly OTT wicket celebrations and well-earned lbw review meme

Edit: oh and incredibly good looking bloke too. Had a better rig than 99% of the population without even lifting hard

 

[subshakerz]

Yeah I missed Shane Watson. Good selection.

 

[anil1405]

The antonym for this thread for me is Michael Vaughan.

 

[cricketsavant]

Shane Watson for sure

Insane in hindsight how he was viewed by the public, never realising how good he was until after his career. Genuine ATG white-ball cricketer and serviceable Test player (when fit). However didn't do himself any favours with his embarrassingly OTT wicket celebrations and well-earned lbw review meme

Edit: oh and incredibly good looking bloke too. Had a better rig than 99% of the population without even lifting hard

Homoeroticism aside, Watto actually lifted a lot, part of his come back when his pace dropped was that he had to lose a lot of muscle weight, which was a factor from his rugby days. He returned a slimmer, better bowler.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

Anil Kumble. I think his numbers would have been even better with good support. I hated him when he had some of these bad patches where he couldn't do much. Looking back, I remember the kind of pitches he bowled on in SC, some of them weren't as spin-friendly as they should have been.

Also, how unique was he, you don't see leggies bowling at that pace with that accuracy.

 

[Calm_profit]

The antonym for this thread for me is Michael Vaughan.

Shane Warne?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I think Ponting is an obvious one for me. Quickly seemed not so bad in hindsight, compared to Clarke and co, and has turned into an excellent commentator.

Yes I thought of Ponting too as soon as I read the thread title.

 

[Chubb]

The antonym for this thread for me is Michael Vaughan.

Mark Richardson for me.

I wouldn't say I hated Ponting - I respected him as a batsman - but I thought he was a pretty unpleasant individual.

 

[_Ed_]

The antonym for this thread for me is Michael Vaughan.

Also Brett Lee and Mark Waugh.

 

[GIMH]

None, I hate all of them

 

[NZTailender]

Also Brett Lee and Mark Waugh.

I actually disliked Brett Lee when he played but now I look back I like him more. That said have no idea about what he's been doing since retiring

Ricky Ponting was another player I thoroughly disliked but actually he's gun.

+1 for Vaughan in the used to like but now loath. Slater as well, unfortunately, for a variety of reasons. Cairns is swinging back round into the like category.

 

[GIMH]

What’s Slater done? Always enjoyed his comms over here though I seem to recall that (much like early Warne) he may have dumbed it down for the home crowd?

 

[Chubb]

What’s Slater done? Always enjoyed his comms over here though I seem to recall that (much like early Warne) he may have dumbed it down for the home crowd?

He's been accused of domestic violence.

 

[GIMH]

Ah

 

[Spark]

What’s Slater done? Always enjoyed his comms over here though I seem to recall that (much like early Warne) he may have dumbed it down for the home crowd?

arrested for breaching an AVO recently

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

I actually disliked Brett Lee when he played but now I look back I like him more. That said have no idea about what he's been doing since retiring

He's a Tory, he'll never be good.