So, we want all the underrated players to get popularised. And there is a very popular underrated player who goes by the name of Shivnarine chanderpaul!
Anyways, here is my modern-day (only active players) test team of underrated guys only:
1. Tamim Iqbal - Better away average than Elgar, Karunaratne. Obviously has played very few matches overseas (and none in Aus) but has a good record in NZ in 6 matches.
2. Azhar Ali - Second best average in last 5 years for openers with at least 1000 runs. Would have put Latham here but from 2018, he has slightly overcome his underrated ness a bit.
3. Kusal Mendis - Would have put Williamson here but he is not that underrated now. Khawaja's very poor overseas record led to Mendis here. Ironically, Kusal Mendis has a better Away average than Home.
4. Ross Taylor - I mean he is one of the most underrated batsman of present day. Just look at his test average! Babar Azam has only recently started to score in Tests so he is not here right now!
5. Ajinkya Rahane / Faf du Plessis - Anyone of them will do. Statistically, I want Rahane but my heart goes with Faf and also to give my batting a bit of African flavour!
6. Dhananjaya de Silva / Roston Chase / Jason Holder - If it is a green track, get Holder. If it is turning, get Roston. If you need more batting, get Dhananjaya (not sure who is better batsman). If Holder plays, he will bat at 7.
7. BJ Watling - Obviously he had to be here! I mean even Sarfaraz Ahmed is more popular than him. Could even bat at no. 6.
8. Yasir Shah / Keshav Maharaj - I would go with Maharaj personally. But Yasir will also do well in places. There ain't many test leggies ATM but Yasir is keeping the legacy alive. And Maharaj is one of those rare South African spinners who are good enough to play even in their own home tracks!
9. Neil Wagner - Before the Aussie series of last year, I had no idea that he has a better bowling average than Trent Boult! Heavily underrated. Unique pacer with medium-pace bouncers!
10. Ishant Sharma - From the year 2018, he has become a different bowler. Has a better bowling average than Shami in the last 5 years but played fewer matches.
11. Mohammad Abbas / Mitchell Starc - What the hell? Star is not underrated. The new Starc is underrated. Ever since he made the change in his ation, he has become something else. And he will have series to prove himself. Abbas, on the other hand, has done well in very few matches. Two very different bowlers: one is accuracy while one is fast.
Anyways, here is my modern-day (only active players) test team of underrated guys only:
1. Tamim Iqbal - Better away average than Elgar, Karunaratne. Obviously has played very few matches overseas (and none in Aus) but has a good record in NZ in 6 matches.
2. Azhar Ali - Second best average in last 5 years for openers with at least 1000 runs. Would have put Latham here but from 2018, he has slightly overcome his underrated ness a bit.
3. Kusal Mendis - Would have put Williamson here but he is not that underrated now. Khawaja's very poor overseas record led to Mendis here. Ironically, Kusal Mendis has a better Away average than Home.
4. Ross Taylor - I mean he is one of the most underrated batsman of present day. Just look at his test average! Babar Azam has only recently started to score in Tests so he is not here right now!
5. Ajinkya Rahane / Faf du Plessis - Anyone of them will do. Statistically, I want Rahane but my heart goes with Faf and also to give my batting a bit of African flavour!
6. Dhananjaya de Silva / Roston Chase / Jason Holder - If it is a green track, get Holder. If it is turning, get Roston. If you need more batting, get Dhananjaya (not sure who is better batsman). If Holder plays, he will bat at 7.
7. BJ Watling - Obviously he had to be here! I mean even Sarfaraz Ahmed is more popular than him. Could even bat at no. 6.
8. Yasir Shah / Keshav Maharaj - I would go with Maharaj personally. But Yasir will also do well in places. There ain't many test leggies ATM but Yasir is keeping the legacy alive. And Maharaj is one of those rare South African spinners who are good enough to play even in their own home tracks!
9. Neil Wagner - Before the Aussie series of last year, I had no idea that he has a better bowling average than Trent Boult! Heavily underrated. Unique pacer with medium-pace bouncers!
10. Ishant Sharma - From the year 2018, he has become a different bowler. Has a better bowling average than Shami in the last 5 years but played fewer matches.
11. Mohammad Abbas / Mitchell Starc - What the hell? Star is not underrated. The new Starc is underrated. Ever since he made the change in his ation, he has become something else. And he will have series to prove himself. Abbas, on the other hand, has done well in very few matches. Two very different bowlers: one is accuracy while one is fast.