Andrew Symonds

Just been watching his break through innings (72 with 6 x sixes) versus South Africa back in December 2005.

Can you believe he went to the crease in that innings with a test average of just 11.25? And he hasn't looked back since (test average 44.65) then in becoming one of the most valuable players in the Aus team in both forms of the game.

Of course the many experts out there heaped so much rubbish on him too about how he would never make it at test level. Good thing the Aus selectors had a bit more faith eh?

Why are so many so quick to condemn players who initially struggle at test level? There are countless examples like the Symonds one above (e.g. I expect before the summer is out Eng fans might have a high opinion of Hashim Amla than they did before this series) and test cricket is a step up - the highest form of the game - yet so called experts always seem willing to tell you player x is bound to be forever hopeless often on the most cursory glances.

Always been a real bugbear of mine.

Jealousy, Gordon.

GordoninPortsmouth wrote:Just been watching his break through innings (72 with 6 x sixes) versus South Africa back in December 2005.

Can you believe he went to the crease in that innings with a test average of just 11.25? And he hasn't looked back since (test average 44.65) then in becoming one of the most valuable players in the Aus team in both forms of the game.

Of course the many experts out there heaped so much rubbish on him too about how he would never make it at test level. Good thing the Aus selectors had a bit more faith eh?

Why are so many so quick to condemn players who initially struggle at test level? There are countless examples like the Symonds one above (e.g. I expect before the summer is out Eng fans might have a high opinion of Hashim Amla than they did before this series) and test cricket is a step up - the highest form of the game - yet so called experts always seem willing to tell you player x is bound to be forever hopeless often on the most cursory glances.

Always been a real bugbear of mine.

Ah ha Gordon.

Good to see you popping in.

Whats even worse is when pople harp on about a player who has never even played a test, and then say he'd never be any good!!

What really gets me irate is when forummers belittle players' manhood.

You could probably come up with a good "Howls of Derison" International XI of young players just into their careers who IMO have every chance of beiing good to very good test players if they get their heads right. Something like:

1. Wasim Jaffer
2. Phil Jacques
3. Hashim Amla
4. Ian Bell
5. Yuvraj Singh
6. Dwayne Bravo
7. Luke Ronchi
8. Beau Casson
9. Stuart Broad
10. Sree Sreesanth
11. Shaun Tait

GordoninPortsmouth wrote:You could probably come up with a good "Howls of Derison" International XI of young players just into their careers who IMO have every chance of beiing good to very good test players if they get their heads right. Something like:

1. Wasim Jaffer
2. Phil Jacques
3. Hashim Amla
4. Ian Bell
5. Yuvraj Singh
6. Dwayne Bravo
7. Luke Ronchi
8. Beau Casson
9. Stuart Broad
10. Sree Sreesanth
11. Shaun Tait

Obviously this is just some of the players I think could be a lot better than they are given credit for. There are many others.

Not Jaffer. He's just guff.

PearlJ wrote:Not Jaffer. He's just guff.

"Howls of Derision XI".

I think you are just proving my point.

GordoninPortsmouth wrote:

PearlJ wrote:Not Jaffer. He's just guff.

"Howls of Derision XI".

I think you are just proving my point.

He is just guff though. I understand your point, but some players ARE just rubbish.

sreesanth to me looks test material. yuvraj doesnt and jaffer not in all conditions

Symonds will be in trouble when the referrals system comes in.

Henry wrote:Symonds will be in trouble when the referrals system comes in.

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