Some players are born with a rusted spoon, and despite having tremendous talent and good track records, they end up being mediocre. They appeared like a star ascending to Earth but then faded away in the strangest way possible. They didn't get their due and were forced to either play in the shadows of legends or warm up the benches by hatching eggs. Even half-chances can change the course of events. In their quest to become exceedingly unfortunate, these players left no stone unturned.
1. Wasim Jaffer
Wasim Jaffer became only the third Indian batsman after Vinoo Mankad and Sunil Gavaskar to score two double centuries as an opener when he made 202 against Pakistan in Kolkata, 2007. As an opener, he was a class act, scoring centuries against Bangladesh, England, the West Indies, and South Africa. It just took a couple of disastrous series for him to be kicked off the squad. Despite his solid local accomplishments, he was never able to return to the national team after 2008. He certainly has to be considered the most unlucky cricketer.
2. Alex Hales
Alex Hales was withdrawn from England's World Cup squad after testing positive for drugs on two occasions. Captain Eoin Morgan regarded the incident as a breach of trust by the opening batsman at the time, and Alex Hales hasn't played white-ball cricket since. He had a great start to his cricketing career, being the change of England's batting culture and enforcing the attacking mode in the team. He individually scored 171 within 36 overs which was the highest score for an Englishman at that time.
3. James Taylor
James Taylor made his debut at the age of 22 and seemed like an upcoming talent in the English Cricketing Circuit. He scored one hundred and 7 fifties in his small stint as an international cricketer. Taylor was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare and dangerous heart ailment. He underwent successful surgery and is now only allowed to engage in light physical exercise. This ended his International Career at the age of just 26.
4. Stuart Macgill
He was more versatile than Shane Warne in terms of technique. He was a master at putting the batsmen on the back foot and catching them off guard with his deliveries. He never relied on pitches or weather circumstances, like Shane Warne, and every bowl was spot on. He provided batsmen with a variety of trajectories, and it's worth noting that he got Sachin Tendulkar more often than Shane Warne. He was born in the wrong generation and was forced to play beneath Shane Warne's shadow; otherwise, his name would be among the top wicket-takers.
5. Ricardo Powell
For his smooth big shot playing ability, he was dubbed the West Indian Hitman. He became the youngest West Indian to strike a century in an ODI during the late 1990s. He hit a scorching 124 runs off 93 balls, including eight huge sixes. He became an overnight sensation and was regarded as King Vivian Richards' genuine heir, according to his phenomenal success. He was the true talent of the Millenium, but the debacle in form began soon after he tasted early success. He was dropped from the team multiple times, the opposition focused on his technique and scoring areas, and he eventually lost his spot in the team.
6. Saba Karim
Karim began his first-class career for Bihar in 1982–83, when he was 15 years old and fresh out of St. Xavier's High School in Patna. In the 1990-91 Ranji Trophy, he had his top score of 234 against Orissa. Saba Karim, India's wicketkeeper, was hit by an Anil Kumble delivery that bounced from a decent length in 2000. Karim's vision was permanently compromised after the ball struck him in the right eye. Karim's cricket career was practically over when he needed eye surgery as a result of the blow.
7. Mohammad Ashraful
He was selected for the ACC Asia XI ODI squad as a top-order batsman with a predilection for spectacular stroke-play. When Ashraful made his maiden test against Sri Lanka when he was less than 17 years old, he became the youngest player to score a century in test cricket. After being found guilty of match-fixing in 2014, the Bangladesh Cricket Board suspended him for eight years. This ban left a dent in his career and hence led to a downfall.
8. Simon Jones
Simon Jones was a key member of England's 2005 Ashes team, which ended an 18-year drought by defeating Australia. He was a national idol destined to rise to greater heights as one of England's top bowlers. Jones' career was cut short when he suffered a devastating knee injury on the first day of the 2006 Ashes Test in Australia at Gabba. He dwindled to a faint apparition of his former self. His final appearance on the international scene was a critical five for 44 in the first innings of the victory at Trent Bridge, as ankle bone spurs and later recurring knee problems cut short this fire-breathing Welsh dragon and purveyor of 90mph reverse swing.
9. Vinod Kambli
After England's Walter Hammond and Australia's Don Bradman, Vinod Kambli began his Test career with a bang, being the first cricketer to score back-to-back double hundreds. He was the fastest Indian to amass 1000 Test runs, averaging about 120 after just seven games. In 1994, Kambli was deemed deficient against a touring West Indian side when he was found wanting against the short ball. There were stories about his opulent lifestyle, which gradually altered people's perceptions of him. At the age of 23, he took his last Test. He made nine comebacks for India but never completely cemented his place. In fact, his Test average of 54.20 is marginally higher than Sachin's! Every cricket fan fantasizes about what his life may have been like if he hadn't become entangled in issues and focused solely on his batting.
10. Brad Hodge
Brad Hodge has long been regarded as Australia's unluckiest player. His most excellent years were during a period of overwhelming Australian cricket dominance, and despite averaging 55 across six Tests, he has never played for his country again. He was always on the periphery of selection but only received his chance when other veteran players were injured or rested. He may not like the label, but he is most likely Australia's 'What If' guy. Dominance has its drawbacks, as Brad Hodge's career demonstrates.
