14 Cricketers, pros of a format and amateur of other - The one format wonders

14 Cricketers, pros of a format and amateur of other – The one format wonders: Cricket is a diversified sport where the different formats of game requires diversified set of skills and dynamics without which adaptation to any given format becomes improbable. For example in Test cricket there is a severe test of technique and temperament of a batsman where bowlers can set him up as they have the license to bowl longer spells. If a batsman seems vulnerable against bouncers in Tests then the bowler can expose him in Tests but in ODIs, there are limited chances of doing so. Over the years, there have been players who couldn’t replicate their magic of one format into another and got type casted either as limited overs specialists or vice-versa. CricTracker prepares an exclusive list of 14 Cricketers, pros of a format and amateur of other – The one format wonders: 1. Justin Langer (Australia): Justin Langer. (© Getty Images) Langer might be short but his mighty achievements in Test cricket stands tall. The 106 Test match veteran plundered 7696 runs with 23 tons at a staggering average of 45. But, Justin couldn’t leave his mark in limited overs cricket as in 8 ODIs, he could only manage 160 runs. The experts believed that his game was tailor-made for Tests and it couldn’t keep up to the pace of ODI cricket. Also Read – Top 10 Players involved in most lost matches in International Cricket 2. Michael Vaughan (England): Michael Vaughan. (© Getty Images) The former English skipper Michael Vaughan was the face of elegance and sheer class which made him one of the most pleasing sights on the eye. In 82 Tests, Vaughan compiled 5719 runs at an average of 42 with 18 centuries to his credit. But, his ODI career lacked the punch as he aggregated 1,982 runs in 86 ODIs at a poor average of 27 and mediocre strike rate of 68. Limited overs cricket didn’t suit his game as such and much. 3. Yuvraj Singh (India): Yuvraj Singh. (© Getty Images) The protagonist of World Cup 2011, Yuvraj enthralled an awe-inspiring ODI career. So far, Yuvi has featured in 293 ODIs and has blasted 8329 runs. Though, he featured in 40 Tests but hardly looked the shadow of the bombarding player we knew, he scored 1900 runs with only 3 tons. The southpaw lacked the required solidity in Test match cricket and his habit of poking at deliveries outside the off-stump got exposed every now and then. 4. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): Lasith Malinga. (© Getty Images) Fondly referred to as Slinga Malinga, his lethal Yorkers and matchless variations made him one of the greatest death bowlers to have played the game. Malinga has grabbed 357 wickets in limited overs cricket and has terrorized most of the batters with his slingy action and top-notch skills. But, his anatomy couldn’t take the burden of Test cricket and his longer version career came to a premature end in 2010. 5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan): Shahid Afridi. (© Getty Images) Boom Boom Afridi has been the face of demolition for decades. When Lala gets going he blasts on opponent bowlers like some atom bomb. In 480 limited overs matches, Afridi has hammered 9282 runs while with the white cherry, he has taken 478 wickets. Afridi’s style of playing didn’t go in the same line with the Pakistan management due to which his career lasted for 27 Tests only. 6. Kyle Mills (New Zealand): Kyle Mills. (© Getty Images) The former Kiwi pace spearhead is regarded as a limited overs specialist. Mills always turned out to be a captain’s delight with his knack of picking up wickets upfront. Mills’ injury-prone career didn’t reap as much fruits as it was expected to. Kyle Mills took 240 ODI wickets in 170 matches at an economy of 4.7 while his Test career could never take off of due to his paramount knee injuries. 7. V.V.S Laxman (India): VVS Laxman. (© Getty Images) Very Very special Laxman used his sublime touch to perfection to pierce the slightest of gaps in the field to outwit the bowlers. Laxman’s illustrious Test career spanned for 134 Tests in which the Hyderabadi magician accumulated 8781 runs and all those runs came at the dire situations of the game which made it even more superior. But, in 86 ODIs, V.V.S made only 2,338 runs at an average of 30. Limited overs cricket didn’t looked like his cup of tea. 8. Michael Bevan (Australia): Michael Bevan (Photo Source: AFP) Michael Bevan revolutionized the role of finishers in limited overs cricket with his gallant batsmanship. Bevan’s match-winning partnerships with lower-order earned Australia many memorable victories. In 232 ODIs, he muttered 6912 runs at a supreme average of 53. But, in Tests he could make only 785 runs in 18 Tests at an average of 29. He was type casted as a ODI specialist and his average performances in the limited opportunities he got didn’t help him either. 9. Ajay Jadeja (India): Ajay Jadeja. (© Getty/AllSport) Ajay Jadeja’s brute knock against Pakistan in World Cup 1996 is still alive in our memories. The 196 ODIs veteran who scored 5,359 runs was a top fielder as well and was a perfect limited overs package. Ajay’s exuberant knocks in the slog overs made him a superlative ODI batsman. Jadeja’s game didn’t match the requirements of Test cricket and he could manage only 576 runs in 15 Test outings at a meager average of 26. 10. Alastair Cook (England): Alastair Cook. (© Getty Images) The English Test skipper Alastair Cook was hailed as the apparent heir of Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket with age and form on his side. But, he endured a horrific ODI stint as a skipper and opener with the English side and was dropped just before the World Cup 2015. Cook’s conservative approach didn’t do him any favors in the demanding shorter versions of the game. In Tests, he has made runs in excess of 9,000 at an average of 46 but in ODIs he averages in mid 30’s with a substandard strike rate of 77. 11. Kieron Pollard (West Indies): Kieron Pollard. (Photo Source: AFP) Kieron Pollard is epitomized as one of the strongest hitters of the cricket ball. His breath-taking batting makes him a superstar in limited overs cricket. Pollard is one of the most sought after player in T20 league cricket as well. But, every coin has another side too. The same makes him a deficient Test player as his technique seems no way near the Test standards. 12. Suresh Raina (India): Suresh Raina. (© Getty Images) The Indian middle-order star Suresh Raina is one of the burly pillars of the Indian batting line-up in limited overs cricket. But, whenever a bowler unleashes barrage of bouncers, it send chills down his spine. Raina’s vulnerability didn’t get that much highlighted in limited overs but in Tests his weakness has got exposed on numerous occasions. 13. Chris Rogers (Australia): Chris Rogers. (© Getty Images) The 37-year old forms other half of the most successful opening pair in the recent years with David Warner, being the other guy. In the twilight of his career, he not only secured a place in the Test side but has enjoyed an extended purple patch. In 23 Tests, he has lined-up 1,920 runs. Out of 45 Test innings, on 18 occasions he has scored 50 plus runs. Rogers was never considered for ODIs due to his age and style of play. 14. Ajit Agarkar (India): Ajit Agarkar. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Ajit Agarkar was once India’s premiere limited overs bowler. Agarkar ended his career with 288 scalps in 170 matches at an average of 27. Although, he was always on the expensive side but he always took crucial wickets. While in Tests he could manage only 58 wickets in 46 innings at a poor average of 47. Ajit was an out-and-out limited overs specialist and could never adjust to the dynamics of Test cricket. Also Read – 14 Gentlemen of the game – Cricketers loved all over the Globe

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14 Cricketers, pros of a format and amateur of other - The one format wonders

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