Underrated test cricketers.



Sid James Park said:
Mike Hendricks...beautiful seam bowler.
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Lovely action.

In my memory I have a picture of him bowling an almost constant diet of leg-cutters and the batsmen either leaving or missing 90% of them. But he was an economical bowler rather than a wicket taker (in my memory)

His stats seem to bear this out. 30 Tests with an average of 2.9 wickets per test (fairly low but very much not terrible) and an average of 25.8 which is pretty good.
 
Funny seeing some of the names that have been classed as underrated, Kallis, Pollock, Philander, Sehwag, Thorpe - don’t think any of those have been short of plaudits for their not inconsiderable talents.

I don’t know if underrated applies to Stuart Law, but being unfortunate to have been born in the same era as so many outstanding contemporaries meant he only ever played one Test, played a single innings in which he scored an unbeaten 54, so didn’t even finish with an average. Reckon he’d have played 100 tests for England if only he had some more immediate roots over here.
 
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Helmerroids said:
Funny seeing some of the names that have been classed as underrated, Kallis, Pollock, Philander, Sehwag, Thorpe - don’t think any of those have been short of plaudits for their not inconsiderable talents.

I don’t know if underrated applies to Stuart Law, but being unfortunate to have been born in the same era as so many outstanding contemporaries meant he only ever played one Test, played a single innings in which he scored an unbeaten 54, so didn’t even finish with an average. Reckon he’d have played 100 tests for England if only he had some more immediate roots over here.
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Yeah good shout. Players such as Law, Lehmann and Di Venuto all had exceptional first class records but couldn’t get in the Australia team. Lehmann did get a chance but never took it, probably because he was under almost u
 
The Breen Machine said:
Yeah good shout. Players such as Law, Lehmann and Di Venuto all had exceptional first class records but couldn’t get in the Australia team. Lehmann did get a chance but never took it, probably because he was under almost u
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You can also add the likes of Hodge, Jaques and Love. Really was an incredible amount of talent in reserve, they used to boast that their second XI would be the second best team in the world, probably right too.
 
Helmerroids said:
Funny seeing some of the names that have been classed as underrated, Kallis, Pollock, Philander, Sehwag, Thorpe - don’t think any of those have been short of plaudits for their not inconsiderable talents.

I don’t know if underrated applies to Stuart Law, but being unfortunate to have been born in the same era as so many outstanding contemporaries meant he only ever played one Test, played a single innings in which he scored an unbeaten 54, so didn’t even finish with an average. Reckon he’d have played 100 tests for England if only he had some more immediate roots over here.
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It’s all relative tho. It’s not how good someone is. It’s about whether you think their achievements correlate with the view of them

I suggested Sehwag. 8,500 runs at 49.3 with 23 tons and 3 triples

but if you asked any non Indian fan to name the best openers of all time I bet he wouldn’t make the top 10
 
Peter Willey was underrated by the powers that be. Hard as nails always picked against the Aussies and the Windies but never seemed to play much against the lesser Test sides.
 
For England?
Always liked Gus Fraser Pre injury
Liked Dean Headley
P H Edmonds a proper spinner

Terry Alderman was quite devastating in English conditions, so many Aussies because they’ve been so good...

I know Brett Lee got 300 wickets but he must have been hell to face, so fast aggressive and stump to stump
 
SuperMarcoRowell said:
For England?
Always liked Gus Fraser Pre injury
Liked Dean Headley
P H Edmonds a proper spinner

Terry Alderman was quite devastating in English conditions, so many Aussies because they’ve been so good...

I know Brett Lee got 300 wickets but he must have been hell to face, so fast aggressive and stump to stump
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I liked Edmonds. I don't know of any other spinner who used to bowl a bouncer.
 
Peter Siddle
Gus Fraser
Shane Watson
Ben Hilfenhaus
Dean Headley
Michael Bevan
Stuart McGill

Generally speaking, Sri Lanka players have never got the same credit as players from the big three who achieved the same or less.
Johnap said:
Peter Willey was underrated by the powers that be. Hard as nails always picked against the Aussies and the Windies but never seemed to play much against the lesser Test sides.
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I would put him in the overrated team. He was poor, but regularly got a game because other batsmen were scared to face the West Indies bowling attack or Lillee and Thomson.
 
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Bri said:
Lovely action.

In my memory I have a picture of him bowling an almost constant diet of leg-cutters and the batsmen either leaving or missing 90% of them. But he was an economical bowler rather than a wicket taker (in my memory)

His stats seem to bear this out. 30 Tests with an average of 2.9 wickets per test (fairly low but very much not terrible) and an average of 25.8 which is pretty good.
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I read an article where he was serving in Sainsbury’s. or was that Chris Old .... ?
Sid James Park said:
Graeme Thorpe
A very tough middle order real Test batsman who was consistent throughout his career.A class act imho.Dont think he gets the credit he deserves.If I were to compile my all time England XI from players I have seen or watched from the mid 70s till now I would have to find a place for him at 4 or 5.
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Well Thorpe played a hundred tests how can he be underrated?I did like him mind, but he went through a period when his marriage was on the rocks and his form suffered..but he was a classy player. Not underrated though!!
 
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