Overrated Test Cricketers

Andrew Flintoff.

An excellent 18 months between 2004-2005 but regularly unfit and flattered to deceive. Stats don't mean everything but they go a long way in cricket and 3 5-fers and 5 100's from about 80 tests is pretty average. A poor and unprofessional captain as well.
 


Andrew Flintoff.

An excellent 18 months between 2004-2005 but regularly unfit and flattered to deceive. Stats don't mean everything but they go a long way in cricket and 3 5-fers and 5 100's from about 80 tests is pretty average. A poor and unprofessional captain as well.
Wasted at least the first half of his career being an unfit county loafer. By the time the penny dropped what it took to be an international cricketer the best part of his time as a bowler was just gone.
 
Derek Pringle - disgraceful that he played for England. Absolute rubbish and he would not have lasted in the Durham Coast League never mind the Senior League. When the useless selectors, Chairman Peter May (ex-public school of course), were picking him they delayed it by one match so he could play in the Varsity match and get his blue. FFS!

There have been better players in the North East and Yorkshire Leagues.
 
Derek Pringle - disgraceful that he played for England. Absolute rubbish and he would not have lasted in the Durham Coast League never mind the Senior League. When the useless selectors, Chairman Peter May (ex-public school of course), were picking him they delayed it by one match so he could play in the Varsity match and get his blue. FFS!

There have been better players in the North East and Yorkshire Leagues.

He quite rightly had his commitment questioned as he lazed around the Chelmsford pitch, and laughed at when he occasionally shouted "Piss off" to some of the crowd. He singlehandedly lost matches for Essex. Nobby Phillip was twice the player Pringle ever was.

Ricky Ponting was a great batsman and his innings to save the 3rd Test in 2005 was magnificent. I always felt, however, that the press (but not himself) made him out to be Bradmanesque. He definitely had a temperament from time to time that would cost him, and as a captain that really showed. It contributed to him losing 3 Ashes series as a captain.
 
Derek Pringle - disgraceful that he played for England. Absolute rubbish and he would not have lasted in the Durham Coast League never mind the Senior League. When the useless selectors, Chairman Peter May (ex-public school of course), were picking him they delayed it by one match so he could play in the Varsity match and get his blue. FFS!

There have been better players in the North East and Yorkshire Leagues.

Pringle was so bad he made Geoff Miller look like Sobers.
 
Brett Lee. Clearly a good, rapid bowler but averaging 31 in 76 tests isn't the record of a player often considered in the highest class.

Had a good series in 2005 but was pretty inconsistent overall and think he was dropped the previous Ashes series IIRC. Great to watch in full flow as many quicks are but same average as Steve Harmison...
Andrew Caddick
The new Richard Hadlee 😄😄😄

Great second innings bowler! All the tools but rarely the temperament when it mattered
 
He quite rightly had his commitment questioned as he lazed around the Chelmsford pitch, and laughed at when he occasionally shouted "Piss off" to some of the crowd. He singlehandedly lost matches for Essex. Nobby Phillip was twice the player Pringle ever was.

Ricky Ponting was a great batsman and his innings to save the 3rd Test in 2005 was magnificent. I always felt, however, that the press (but not himself) made him out to be Bradmanesque. He definitely had a temperament from time to time that would cost him, and as a captain that really showed. It contributed to him losing 3 Ashes series as a captain.

Every batsman is vulnerable early on but none more so than Ponting of the modern greats IMO. He was a very high class batsman with a classical pull shot and straight drive, but a nervy starter who usually gave a chance early on.
 
His stats would tell you so but I thought he was great. I think captaining for so long under Illingworth without support took its toll and his chronic back condition which saw his average drop late in his career.

Agree. He was very consistent when leading a pretty poor team with no clear direction or consistency in selection, against some of the best bowling attacks of all time. His form tailed off as his back condition deteriorated but he was always a prized wicket for the opposition.
 

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