The forgotten...

[qpeedore]

Cricket has been played for a long time now. We know this. And we all remember Sachin, VVS, Lara, Murali, Warne.

What about those guys that will never be talked about? Even if they have been there for cricket's historical moments?

- Joe Solomon. We've all seen that famous photo. West Indians jumping, stumps shattered. The first ever tied Test in the history of cricket. Look at the far left. That's Solomon, still in his throwing action. He had run out a batsman just a few balls before that too. He said it reminded him of throwing a stone to get mangoes off of a tree back when he was young. Believe me, I've pelted my fair share of mangoes and always missed. But with one stump to aim at, he hit. And cemented himself into cricket history. But nobody, absolutely nobody, talks about him.

- Ian Bradshaw. THAT Champions League final. An accountant turned international bowler. Everybody figured the match was in the bag. But no. And hell no at that. They (he and Browne) defied the bowlers, and when given the option of the light because there was a reserve day, they said no. Bat on it was, and it produced perhaps the best finish to a match I've seen up until the 2019 World Cup. But does anyone talk about him? Nope.

I have more West Indians, but I want you to tell me about players from your country. Who was there for famous moments but nobody talks about them?

 

[Bevab]

One player is Joginder Sharma who bowled that epic last over in the first ever Twenty20 World Cup and dismissed a well set Misbah to give India their first WC trophy in nearly twenty four years. Events that happened after that were huge, the BCCI realised that T20 was here to stay and set up a rival tournament to the rebel ICL called the 'Indian Premier League' and one MS Dhoni was permanently installed as the captain after that success with a predominantly less experienced group of players, several of whom would play important roles for India in the future (to illustrate how inexperienced that team was, other sides had a bunch of players who played more than one T20I before the WC where as the most any Indian played was one).

More than a decade later, both of those decisions taken on the back of success in that one over have proven to be excellent successes. As for Joginder Sharma, what happened to him? That final was to be his last game in Indian colours and he retired a few years ago and is currently serving as a highly ranked police officer in his native state.

 

[qpeedore]

And yet hardly anyone remembers him...he was an excellent player both on and off the field. That's a great player @Bevab.

I want to mention the West Indies fast bowler Roy Gilchrist. His aggression definitely told on the field, and he bowled beamers time after time. But, he got batsmen rankled. If not for being told by Gerry Alexander (the last white person to captain a WI team and who played in that tied Test)...he was told to leave a tour of India. His aggression was apparently too much. Rumours of him pulling a knife on Alexander persist to this day, but the fact remains that he never played another Test after that. He moved to England and took at least 100 wickets per year from 1958 to 1979 in County cricket.

(EDIT: Never seen the guy bowl, not even YouTube will provide proper quality, but looking at that picture, he most likely had a slinging action. Would have been scary to face him if you knew he was bowling dipping full tosses, which he did.)

 

[qpeedore]

The inspiration behind this thread, and the story behind it...

The man in the photo | The Cricket Monthly | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Ashutosh.]

Zaheer Khan took 21 wickets in 9 matches in ICC CWC 2011. But everyone has forgotten it.

 

[qpeedore]

What about Jermaine Lawson?

A good fast bowler who unfortunately bent his arm just a little too much while delivering. I watched the guy demolish batting attacks before he was reported. Pace, accuracy, run-up, he had it all...except the actual delivery according to the ICC. He was one of the best in a declining WI team, yet once you're reported for your action, everyone is going to report you for your action. (See: Narine, S...IPL 2020.)

EDIT: I'm not accepting Zaheer Khan. You think of India in the early parts of the century and Khan is there. I'm not talking about performances. I'm talking about players whose entire careers are forgotten. (EDITx3: Now if you had mentioned Ajay Ratra...well, I'd accept him.)

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I would continue to add another West Indian Sulieman Benn. Not a forgotten hero but he is forgotten. Although 39 years now, played alongside a decent upcoming West Indies team.

 

[qpeedore]

I'll take Benn. While he's not exactly forgotten, enough people don't talk about him. At six feet with some change left over, he was definitely the tallest spinner I've seen. And he could do a Fidel Edwards-type batting (meaning he'd hold an end for Shiv Chanderpaul to also block out six balls with a session left). But he could throw the wood around too. I think...without checking stats here, I think his highest Test score was 95? He went for a six but was caught and all of us were like you're a royal idiot aren't you?

EDIT: Okay so he never scored 95...some tail ender did though...ah, it was the worst of the Best. That of the Best comma Tino. That was the innings I was remembering. As a commentator though, the guy is actually pretty damn good. I hope he finds the chances into his future.

 

[Yash.]

Zaheer Khan took 21 wickets in 9 matches in ICC CWC 2011. But everyone has forgotten it.

I don't think anyone has.

 

[Yash.]

Cameron White?

Was one of the earlier T20 superstars, and a great leader in T20 cricket. Gave the ball some lusty blows and did make some mammoth hundreds. Adding to that, his leg spin was more than handy (especially in the longer formats).

One of my favorite players, considering he played in three of the T20 teams I support (Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Melbourne Stars)

 

[Bevab]

Cameron White?

Was one of the earlier T20 superstars, and a great leader in T20 cricket. Gave the ball some lusty blows and did make some mammoth hundreds. Adding to that, his leg spin was more than handy (especially in the longer formats).

One of my favorite players, considering he played in three of the T20 teams I support (Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Melbourne Stars)

More of an underachiever than a forgotten player for me. He has over 125 games for Australia in white ball cricket, in no way is he forgotten!

 

[qpeedore]

Yeah if we're talking about Aussie leg spinners who were forgotten we might as well throw in Stuart MacGill who had the unfortunate time of playing when Warne was getting back to being his best.

 

[qpeedore]

Let's go with Adrian Barath, an opening batsman for the West Indies who had all the shots, but perhaps not the stickability to remain in the Test side. Despite one ton and 4 half centuries in a 15 Test career, he could not make himself a consistent part of a WI team that chopped and changed perhaps a bit too much in the late 00's and early oughties.

 

[CerealKiller]

Mohammad Asif was rated by AB de Villiers and Kevin Pietersen as the most difficult bowler they ever faced. His feats against England and Australia in 2010 (at least the positive ones), and against India in 2006 are well renowned, but if you want definitive proof that AB and KP's statements were no hyperbole, watch his 11 wickets in Kandy against Sri Lanka. This guy could bowl. Too bad he pissed it away for a few extra bucks, after signing a mega deal with Yorkshire too. Oh, and the drugs too.
Best new ball bowler for Pakistan since Wasim.

 

[qpeedore]

Undecided about him. I think about him when I think about Pakistan in the late 2000's, but it's not like it's a given. I'll end up accepting him.