Cricket stands as a game demanding substantial expertise, unwavering commitment, and strong psychological resilience. Numerous outstanding players have mesmerized fans with their skills throughout the league’s history, but there have also been a few athletes who were unable to create an impression. You’ll examine 10 cricketers who, according to today match live video, their poor batting averages, poor bowling records, and poor fielding abilities, are among least successful cricketers in history in the list that follows.
Vinod Kambli
Vinod Kambli burst onto the international cricket scene as a prodigiously talented young batsman from India in the early 1990s. Alongside childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar, he was part of a record-breaking 664-run partnership in a school cricket match in 1988. Kambli carried this form into his early international career, scoring a dazzling double century against England in 1993. At age 21, he broke the record for the fastest ever Test double hundred, reaching the milestone in just 227 balls. This highlighted his flair and aggression as a strokemaker.
However, Kambli soon struggled to fulfill his early promise. His technique, while captivating against pace bowling, was found lacking against quality spin bowling. He was prone to play expansive shots without discretion. Kambli’s footwork and judgment outside off-stump was questionable, leading to inconsistent performances. After an initial bright start, his Test average declined to a mediocre 54.20. In ODIs, he scored at under a run-a-ball and averaged only 32.59. Fitness and discipline issues also plagued Kambli, as he enjoyed the Mumbai nightlife more than dedicating himself to cricket.
Ajit Agarkar
An inconsistent Indian fast bowler, Ajit Agarkar played for India between 1998 to 2007. While he picked up 58 wickets in 26 test matches, his bowling average was a poor 47.85. In ODIs, he snared 288 wickets at an average of 27.85. Agarkar struggled with economy rates over 5 throughout his career. His wayward bowling cost India in many crucial games. To his credit, Agarkar was a useful lower order batsman who produced some gutsy innings. But his bowling struggles far outweighed his batting contributions.
S. Sreesanth
Another Indian fast bowler on this list, S. Sreesanth enjoyed brief success but failed to maintain consistency throughout his career. He was prone to injuries and lost his place in the Indian team after the emergence of younger pacers. Sreesanth’s impact was limited to just 27 test matches and 53 ODIs. His test bowling average stands at 37.59 while he conceded over 5 runs per over in ODIs. Discipline issues, injuries and average skills resulted in an underwhelming career for this fiery pacer.
Kamran Akmal
The Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal was an unreliable glovesman behind the stumps. While his batting was occasionally useful, Akmal dropped crucial catches at key moments which cost Pakistan many matches. His inconsistency and sloppy wicket-keeping overshadowed his useful middle order batting. Akmal’s dropping of Ross Taylor at a pivotal point during the 2011 World Cup semi-final was the final straw that ended his international career soon after.
Craig White
The English all-rounder Craig White struggled to make an impact as a reliable bowling option. While his gritty lower-order batting was useful at times, his right-arm medium pace seldom troubled opposition batters. White claimed a meager 10 wickets in 21 inconsequential test matches. In ODIs, he managed just 80 wickets with a bowling average close to 38. Besides some fighting 30s and 40s with the bat, White contributed very little of note during his brief England stint in the early 2000s.
Chris Martin
New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin relied more on perseverance than skill during his career. With a bizarre bowling action and limited pace, Martin claimed 233 test wickets at a lofty average of 33.81 over an 11-year career. While his longevity playing test cricket is impressive, Martin’s strike-rate of 63.3 overs per wicket reveal his ineffectiveness on unhelpful pitches. His comical batting struggles also make him one of the worst XI cricketers of all time.
Mashrafe Mortaza
Bangladesh relied heavily on Captain Mashrafe Mortaza to lead their pace bowling attack. But beyond his whole-hearted efforts, Mortaza lacked the skills and pace to trouble world-class opponents. Averaging over 37 in tests and above 31 in ODIs, Mortaza’s wickets came at a high price. Apart from bringing spirit to the Bangladesh team, Mortaza’s personal contributions were limited even at the height of his career during the late 2000s.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
In stark contrast to typical West Indian strokemakers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul had an ugly, unorthodox batting technique. While his nagging approach yielded runs, his style was tough on the eye. Chanderpaul deservedly earned the nickname “Crab” for his open-chested, sideways-on batting stance. With an ODI strike rate of just 63.5, Chanderpaul was a liability in the shorter formats where scoring at a brisk pace is required.
Mark Ramprakash
Mark Ramprakash is arguably England’s greatest domestic batsmen never to succeed at the international level. He averaged over 50 in county cricket but those runs could not translate into consistent success for England. In 52 Tests, Ramprakash disappointed with a batting average of just 27.32 with only 2 centuries. His flashy batting style was ill-suited for test cricket longevity. Ramprakash will be remembered as one of cricket’s nearly men rather than a great batsman.
Rajesh Chauhan
A define example of an India player selected from the domestic circuit who failed to make the step up, off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan had a brief and unfruitful international career in the 1990s. In 21 forgettable Tests, Chauhan claimed a measly 38 wickets at an extremely high average of over 48. Lacking turn or variation, he was ineffective overseas and forgotten quickly. Chauhan was also a poor lower-order batsman who averaged just 12 with the bat.
Conclusion
While many cricketers have left their mark through impressive feats. According to yesterday cricket match highlights, these players failed to reach similar heights. Their skills plateaued at mediocre levels as they struggled on the international stage. However, the beauty of cricket lies in the fact that even not-so-talented players get opportunities to play at the highest level. While their performances ranged from average to poor, their presence added colour to the cricket world. The efforts of those who persevered despite limitations also reveal that hard work and mental strength are equally crucial. For aspiring players, these cricketers serve as examples that raw talent alone cannot guarantee success in competitive cricket at the global level.