Cricket has seen many superstars but not all of them have had great starts to their careers. Here’s a thread on some of the top cricketers who had an ordinary starts to their careers but went on to become big names #SundayMotivation #Thread
1. Sir Donald Bradman
Bradman made his Test debut at 20 at Brisbane.Scored 18 & 1 on his debut & was dropped for the next Test—the only time Bradman was ever dropped for Australia.Scored 79 & 112 at MCG & never looked back. Finished with 6996 runs,29 tons, Avg 99.94 in 70 inns
Bradman made his Test debut at 20 at Brisbane.Scored 18 & 1 on his debut & was dropped for the next Test—the only time Bradman was ever dropped for Australia.Scored 79 & 112 at MCG & never looked back. Finished with 6996 runs,29 tons, Avg 99.94 in 70 inns
2. Shane Warne
Warne made his debut v India at the SCG in 1992 & his bowling figures were 1/150 in 45 overs. Was wicketless in his next 3 innings. Took 3/11 v SL at Colombo where Australia won by 16 runs. Took 7/52 v WI & MCG in 1992/93. Finished with 708 Test wickets.
Warne made his debut v India at the SCG in 1992 & his bowling figures were 1/150 in 45 overs. Was wicketless in his next 3 innings. Took 3/11 v SL at Colombo where Australia won by 16 runs. Took 7/52 v WI & MCG in 1992/93. Finished with 708 Test wickets.
3. Sachin Tendulkar
Scored 15 on his debut at Karachi. His first two ODI scores were 0, 0. Tendulkar hit two fifties in his 1st ever Test series & hit his maiden ton v England in 1990. Scored his first ODI ton in his 78th ODI in 1994. Finished with 100 international hundreds.
Scored 15 on his debut at Karachi. His first two ODI scores were 0, 0. Tendulkar hit two fifties in his 1st ever Test series & hit his maiden ton v England in 1990. Scored his first ODI ton in his 78th ODI in 1994. Finished with 100 international hundreds.
4. Imran Khan
Made his Test debut at Birmingham in 1971—was wicketless & scored 5 runs.Was dropped from the team for 3 years. Changed his action mid-way in his career—from open chested to side-on. Picked 362 Test wickets. Scored 3807 Test runs.Led Pakistan to 1992 World Cup win
Made his Test debut at Birmingham in 1971—was wicketless & scored 5 runs.Was dropped from the team for 3 years. Changed his action mid-way in his career—from open chested to side-on. Picked 362 Test wickets. Scored 3807 Test runs.Led Pakistan to 1992 World Cup win
5. Virat Kohli
Scored 76 runs in his first five Test innings & was dropped from the tour of England in 2011. In his comeback Test Kohli scored 52 & 63 v WI in Mumbai. Was picked for Aus tour of 2011/12. Scored maiden ton at Adelaide. Has 27 tons (7 double tons) in 86 Tests!
Scored 76 runs in his first five Test innings & was dropped from the tour of England in 2011. In his comeback Test Kohli scored 52 & 63 v WI in Mumbai. Was picked for Aus tour of 2011/12. Scored maiden ton at Adelaide. Has 27 tons (7 double tons) in 86 Tests!
6. MS Dhoni
Run-out on the first ball in ODIs. Subsequent scores 12, 7* & 3. Then he was sent at No.3 v Pakistan at Visakhapatnam. Dhoni hit 148 off 123 balls & announced his arrival. Hit 183* v SL in that year. Has 10000+ ODI runs at an average in excess of 50.
Run-out on the first ball in ODIs. Subsequent scores 12, 7* & 3. Then he was sent at No.3 v Pakistan at Visakhapatnam. Dhoni hit 148 off 123 balls & announced his arrival. Hit 183* v SL in that year. Has 10000+ ODI runs at an average in excess of 50.
7. Graham Gooch
He was out for 0 & 0 on his Test debut v Australia at Birmingham in 1975. Finished with 8900 Test runs in 118 Tests. Holds the record for most runs in a Test (456)—333 & 123 v India at Lord’s in 1990
He was out for 0 & 0 on his Test debut v Australia at Birmingham in 1975. Finished with 8900 Test runs in 118 Tests. Holds the record for most runs in a Test (456)—333 & 123 v India at Lord’s in 1990
8. Marvan Atapattu
His first six scores in Tests read 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0 (the one run was also actually a leg bye wrongly credited as a run). Made a comeback in Tests 3 years later. Scored his first Test ton in his 10th Test. Hit 6 double hundreds. In 90 Tests scored 5502 runs.
His first six scores in Tests read 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0 (the one run was also actually a leg bye wrongly credited as a run). Made a comeback in Tests 3 years later. Scored his first Test ton in his 10th Test. Hit 6 double hundreds. In 90 Tests scored 5502 runs.
9. Steve Smith
Smith was picked as a leg-spinner who could bat. In his first 22 Test innings he scored 620 runs averaging under 30. Hit a ton on his 23rd & never looked back. In 131 innings he averages 62.84 with 26 tons!
Smith was picked as a leg-spinner who could bat. In his first 22 Test innings he scored 620 runs averaging under 30. Hit a ton on his 23rd & never looked back. In 131 innings he averages 62.84 with 26 tons!
10. Virender Sehwag
Scored 1 on his ODI debut v Pakistan in 1999. Was out of the ODI team for 1.5 years. In his 4th ODI he scored 58 & took 3 wickets v Australia. Made his Test debut in 2001 & hit a ton. Went on to become one of the most devastating openers @virendersehwag
Scored 1 on his ODI debut v Pakistan in 1999. Was out of the ODI team for 1.5 years. In his 4th ODI he scored 58 & took 3 wickets v Australia. Made his Test debut in 2001 & hit a ton. Went on to become one of the most devastating openers @virendersehwag
11. Sourav Ganguly
Scored 3 on his ODI debut v WI at Brisbane in 1992. Was out of the team for nearly 4.5 years. Scored 46 in his comeback innings v England in ODIs. Scored two tons in his first two Tests v England in 1996. Went on to become one of the finest captains
Scored 3 on his ODI debut v WI at Brisbane in 1992. Was out of the team for nearly 4.5 years. Scored 46 in his comeback innings v England in ODIs. Scored two tons in his first two Tests v England in 1996. Went on to become one of the finest captains
12. Muttiah Muralitharan
In his first 35 Tests, Muralitharan averaged in excess of 30. In his 66th Test his average fell below 25 (took 205 wickets in that period). Took 800 Test wickets at an average of 22.72!
In his first 35 Tests, Muralitharan averaged in excess of 30. In his 66th Test his average fell below 25 (took 205 wickets in that period). Took 800 Test wickets at an average of 22.72!
13. Rohit Sharma
In his first 98 ODI innings, Rohit had 2 tons & averaged 32.5. In his next 119 innings, Rohit scored another 27 ODI tons & avg 49.27. In Tests,Rohit has 3 tons in 6 innings as opener. His fortunes changed when he started opening in ODIs & Tests! Has 4 T20I tons
In his first 98 ODI innings, Rohit had 2 tons & averaged 32.5. In his next 119 innings, Rohit scored another 27 ODI tons & avg 49.27. In Tests,Rohit has 3 tons in 6 innings as opener. His fortunes changed when he started opening in ODIs & Tests! Has 4 T20I tons
14. Jacques Kallis
In his first 7 Test innings, Kallis scored only 57 runs & averaged 8.14. He got his maiden Test ton in his 7th match. Played 166 Tests & scored 13289 runs with 45 tons. Took 292 Test wickets too. One of the best all-rounders the world has ever seen
In his first 7 Test innings, Kallis scored only 57 runs & averaged 8.14. He got his maiden Test ton in his 7th match. Played 166 Tests & scored 13289 runs with 45 tons. Took 292 Test wickets too. One of the best all-rounders the world has ever seen
15 Sir Vivian Richards
BS Chandrasekhar got young debutant Richards in both the innings in Bengaluru for 4 & 3 in 1974. In the next Test,Chandrasekhar was dropped & Richards scored 192*. Ended up scoring 8540 runs in 121 Tests. One of the best ODI players—6721 runs are SR of 90+
BS Chandrasekhar got young debutant Richards in both the innings in Bengaluru for 4 & 3 in 1974. In the next Test,Chandrasekhar was dropped & Richards scored 192*. Ended up scoring 8540 runs in 121 Tests. One of the best ODI players—6721 runs are SR of 90+
16. Saeed Anwar
Bagged a pair on his Test debut v WI at Faisalabad in 1990. He didn’t play another Test for three years. Scored 169 in his 3rd Test v NZ in 1993/94. Scored 4052 Test runs at an avg of 45+. One of the best ODI batsmen in his era. Hit his 1st 50+ score in 11th ODI
Bagged a pair on his Test debut v WI at Faisalabad in 1990. He didn’t play another Test for three years. Scored 169 in his 3rd Test v NZ in 1993/94. Scored 4052 Test runs at an avg of 45+. One of the best ODI batsmen in his era. Hit his 1st 50+ score in 11th ODI
At SR of 90+
17. Sir Richard Hadlee
Picked only 2 wickets on his Test debut v Pak in 1973. Took only 1 wicket in his 2nd Test v England. Took his first five-for in the 9th Test. Registered 36 five-fors in 86 Tests. Finished with 431 Test wickets.
Picked only 2 wickets on his Test debut v Pak in 1973. Took only 1 wicket in his 2nd Test v England. Took his first five-for in the 9th Test. Registered 36 five-fors in 86 Tests. Finished with 431 Test wickets.
18. Hashim Amla
In his first three Test, Amla scored 62 runs at an average of 10.33. Scored 149 in his 4th Test v NZ at Cape Town. Hit the first ever triple hundred by a SA batsman in Test cricket. In 124 Tests scored 9282 runs at an average of 46.64 with 28 centuries!
In his first three Test, Amla scored 62 runs at an average of 10.33. Scored 149 in his 4th Test v NZ at Cape Town. Hit the first ever triple hundred by a SA batsman in Test cricket. In 124 Tests scored 9282 runs at an average of 46.64 with 28 centuries!
19. Matthew Hayden
Made his Test debut in 1993/94. Scored 25 runs in his first 4 Test innings. Before 2001 tour of India, he averaged 24.36 in 22 innings with 1 ton. Finished his career with 30 Test tons & averaged 50.73 in 103 Tests
@HaydosTweets
Made his Test debut in 1993/94. Scored 25 runs in his first 4 Test innings. Before 2001 tour of India, he averaged 24.36 in 22 innings with 1 ton. Finished his career with 30 Test tons & averaged 50.73 in 103 Tests
@HaydosTweets
20. Rahul Dravid
Scored 95 & 84 in his first 2 Test innings but took time settling in the ODI side. His first 8 ODI innings read 3,4,3,11,22*,7*,13,39. Was dropped from the ODI side but scored a fine ton v NZ at Taupo. Top run getter in ‘99 WC. Played 344 ODIs with 10889 runs.
Scored 95 & 84 in his first 2 Test innings but took time settling in the ODI side. His first 8 ODI innings read 3,4,3,11,22*,7*,13,39. Was dropped from the ODI side but scored a fine ton v NZ at Taupo. Top run getter in ‘99 WC. Played 344 ODIs with 10889 runs.
21. Michael Holding
Holding took only 16 wickets in his first 7 Tests & averaged 45.5. His first five wicket haul came in the famous Trinidad Test of 1976 where India chased 403. Holding took 249 wickets in 60 Tests at an average of 23.68 with 13 five-wicket hauls
Holding took only 16 wickets in his first 7 Tests & averaged 45.5. His first five wicket haul came in the famous Trinidad Test of 1976 where India chased 403. Holding took 249 wickets in 60 Tests at an average of 23.68 with 13 five-wicket hauls
22. Steve Waugh
Made his Test debut in 1985/86 & hit his maiden ton in his 27th Test v England at Leeds in 1989. Was dropped due to poor form in 1990/91 (no fifty in 16 innings). Went on to score 10927 runs in 168 Tests with 32 tons averaging 51+
One of the all-time greats
Made his Test debut in 1985/86 & hit his maiden ton in his 27th Test v England at Leeds in 1989. Was dropped due to poor form in 1990/91 (no fifty in 16 innings). Went on to score 10927 runs in 168 Tests with 32 tons averaging 51+
One of the all-time greats
23. Martin Crowe
Made his Test debut v Australia in Wellington at 19 in 1981/82.In his first 33 innings,Crowe’s average was under 30. Scored a fine 188 v WI at Georgetown & 188 v Aus at the Gabba in 1985 & never looked back. Scored 5444 runs in 77 Tests with 17 tons (Avg 45.3)
Made his Test debut v Australia in Wellington at 19 in 1981/82.In his first 33 innings,Crowe’s average was under 30. Scored a fine 188 v WI at Georgetown & 188 v Aus at the Gabba in 1985 & never looked back. Scored 5444 runs in 77 Tests with 17 tons (Avg 45.3)
24 Justin Langer
Made his Test debut in 1992/93 but got a consistent run in the side from 1998/99. Hit his first Test ton in his 10th Test at Peshawar. Before that Test Langer’s average was 20.9. In 105 Tests, Langer scored 7696 runs at an average of 45.27 with 23 tons!
Made his Test debut in 1992/93 but got a consistent run in the side from 1998/99. Hit his first Test ton in his 10th Test at Peshawar. Before that Test Langer’s average was 20.9. In 105 Tests, Langer scored 7696 runs at an average of 45.27 with 23 tons!
25. Sanath Jayasuriya
His ODI average touched 20 for the first time in his 82nd innings. Started as a middle order batsman but made an impact as opener. In 445 ODIs scored 13430 runs with 28 tons & SR of 91. Picked 323 ODI wickets too. One of the all-time greats
His ODI average touched 20 for the first time in his 82nd innings. Started as a middle order batsman but made an impact as opener. In 445 ODIs scored 13430 runs with 28 tons & SR of 91. Picked 323 ODI wickets too. One of the all-time greats
