Cricket is considered one of the most famous sports as it garners a lot of attention and love from people all across the globe. There are countries like India where cricket is considered no less than a religion. Similarly, cricket players are treated as demigods in some parts of the world.

Since the inception of the gentlemen’s game almost 150 years ago with a Test match between England and Australia, there have been many players who have inscribed their names in the golden letters in the history of the sport. Generation after generation, the sport has created stalwarts and giant ambassadors from various countries.

While a handful of players received their share of appreciation and love from the fans, there remains a sea of players who were overshadowed by some other cricketers. There are players who have flown under the radar and despite having plenty of talent and haven’t received the deserved media attention and acknowledgment.

In the article, let&#8217;s look at the under-rated XI of cricketers:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-403400" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Tom-Latham.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-403400" class="wp-caption-text">Tom Latham. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Whenever someone talks about the New Zealand cricket team players like <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/pat-cummins-picks-his-world-test-xi-kane-williamson-to-bat-at-no-3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kane Willamson</a>, Martin Guptill, Tim Southee, and Trent Boult take the centre stage. There’s no doubt that all the aforementioned players are exceptional cricketers and form the backbone of New Zealand’s team.

However, there‘s one more player namely Tom Latham who often gets sidelined by the media and the cricket experts. Latham is one of the mainstays of Kiwi’s batting line-up and has enjoyed a decent run in the international circuit thus far.

The 29-year-old made his debut for the Kiwi side in 2012 in a One Day International against Zimbabwe. This was followed by Tom making his debut in the shortest and longest format in June 2012 and February 2014 respectively.

While the left-hander has been axed from T20I format, he continues flaunting his class in ODIs and Test matches. Thus far in his cricket career, Latham has featured in as many as 56 Tests and 102 One Day Internationals. In 56 Test matches, the 29-year-old has amassed 3929 runs at an average of 42.2. He also has 2824 ODI runs under his belt at an average of 34.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-508959" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dimuth-Karunaratn.jpg" alt="Dimuth Karunaratne" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-508959" class="wp-caption-text">Dimuth Karunaratne. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP) (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

A compact opening batsman <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crictracker/posts/4567291349968217" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dimuth Karunaratne</a> has all that it takes to be at the center stage in the cricket fraternity. With his debut in 2011 for Sri Lanka, the 33-year-old made headlines with his class and attractive strokeplay.

Almost a decade later, the batsman continues to flaunt his class with the willow but can conveniently complain about not receiving the deserved respect and appreciation for the contribution he has made to the Sri Lanka cricket team.

Though Karunaratne forms a backbone of New Zealand’s batting line-up in ODIs too, he is fondly renowned as a red-ball specialist. Since his debut in the purest format of the game in 2012, the 33-year-old has featured in a stunning 72 Test matches.

In them, Dimuth has collected 5176 runs at an average of 38.6. Coming to the One Day Internationals, the left-hander has played 34 matches scoring 767 runs at an average of 27.4.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-344414" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shai-Hope-2.jpg" alt="Shai Hope" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-344414" class="wp-caption-text">Shai Hope. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The West Indies cricket team boasts of having a decent command in the shortest format owing to the presence of power-hitters but the same can’t be said for Tests and 50-overs cricket. While the team is facing an identity crisis in ODIs and Tests, Shai Hope has emerged as a hope for the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/pat-cummins-and-david-warner-likely-to-be-rested-for-the-australia-tour-of-west-indies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caribbean nation</a>.

As opposed to the other West Indies batters, Hope is a technically sound batsman and knows how to gradually pace his innings rather than swinging the bat on every other ball.

In the short span of his cricket career, Hope has made a big impact and is being considered with some of the legends of the game due to his placement and timing. The 27-year-old has represented West Indies in 34 Test matches collecting 1603 runs at an average of 26.3.

The Barbadian cricketer has also played 81 One Day Internationals and 13 T20 Internationals. While Hope has accumulated 3547 ODI runs at an impressive average of 53.7, he has 238 T20I runs at an average of 21.6 and a strike rate of 136.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-396067" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ross-Taylor-3.jpg" alt="Ross Taylor" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-396067" class="wp-caption-text">Ross Taylor. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption>

There’s no doubt about the fact that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-feel-like-age-is-just-a-number-ross-taylor-dismisses-retirement-rumors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ross Taylor</a> forms the heart of New Zealand’s batting line-up. Since his debut for the Kiwi side in 2006, the right-hander has churned performances after performances.

However, Taylor has been massively overshadowed by Kane Williamson and isn’t bestowed with as much respect and applause he deserves. Taylor has an average in excess of 45 in both One Day Internationals and the purest format of the game.

The 37-year-old has played a whopping 107 Test matches for New Zealand aggregating 7379 runs at an average of 45.8. The former Kiwi captain also has a massive 8581 ODI runs under his belt with an average of 48.2.

The New Zealand number four also has 1909 T20I runs in 102 fixtures at an average of 26.1 and a strike rate of 122.4. Ross Taylor also boasts of topping the list when it comes to the number of centuries scored by a Kiwi player. He has scored 40 centuries including 19 in Test matches and 21 in ODIs.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-519100" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mushfiqur-Rahim.jpg" alt="Mushfiqur Rahim" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-519100" class="wp-caption-text">Mushfiqur Rahim. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/bangladesh-vs-sri-lanka-odi-series-stats-review-kusal-pereras-records-mushfiqur-rahims-milestones-and-more-stats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mushfiqur Rahim</a> is an absolute livewire on the cricket field. It won’t be wrong to say that Rahim is arguably the best leader to have captained the Bangladesh cricket team. He is a quick wicketkeeper who has sharp reflexes along with being a flamboyant batsman who can give nightmares to the opposition bowlers on his day.

Rahim made his debut for the national team in 2005 in a Test match against England. Since then, there has been no looking back for the keeper as he has risen through the ranks to establish himself as one of the best Bangladesh cricketers in the modern era. The 34-year-old has presented the Men in Red and Green in 74 Test matches so far scoring 4685 runs at an average of 37.2.

In 227 One Day Internationals, Rahim has amassed 6581 runs at an average of 37.2 and a strike rate of 79. The right-handed middle-order batsman also has 1282 T20I runs in 86 matches at an average of 20 and a strike rate of 120.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-435855" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Fawad-Alam-2.jpg" alt="Fawad Alam" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-435855" class="wp-caption-text">Fawad Alam. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

During the early days of his cricket career, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-fawad-alam-and-imran-butt-carry-pakistan-to-safer-shores-against-spirited-zimbabwe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fawad Alam</a> was touted as the next big thing of Pakistan cricket. The left-hander made a lot of headlines owing to his impressive run in the domestic circuit.

However, life has been very unfair for the 35-year-old as he could never cement a permanent position in the Pakistan cricket team. Alam got very limited chances and was often in and out of the playing XI.

Though the batter performed in almost every match whenever he got an opportunity, the selectors and the Pakistan team management failed to identify the talent in Fawad and never rewarded him with a permanent place. Last year, Fawad made a comeback to the Pakistan side after sitting on the bench for 88 Test matches and almost ten years.

So far, in his cricket career of 15 years, the 35-year-old has featured in just 11 Test matches and 38 One Day Internationals. While he has 715 Test runs at an average of 42, the left-hander scored 966 ODI runs at an average of 40.2.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-431618" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chris-Woakes.jpg" alt="Chris Woakes" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-431618" class="wp-caption-text">Chris Woakes. (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)</figcaption>

The England cricket team has a lot of match-winners in their side that are capable of single-handedly taking the English team to victory. While the likes of Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rajasthan-royals-use-jofra-archers-6-year-old-tweet-to-announce-the-rescheduled-ipl-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jofra Archer</a>, Sam Curran, and Joe Root receive a lot of media attention and love from the fans, there is someone who has still remains underrated.

In the recent past, Chris Woakes has involved himself as a player who can cause carnage on the field both with the willow and the ball. However, it won’t be wrong to say that Chris is the most-underrated all-rounder of recent times and his efforts have often been undermined by the cricket fraternity.

The 32-year-old has a staggering 112 scalps and 1321 runs in just 38 Test matches. Woakes also has impressive numbers in One Day Internationals. The all-rounder has scored 1315 runs at an average of 25.8 along with picking 149 wickets at an economy rate of 5.54 in 104 ODI matches.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-481477" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman.jpg" alt="Mujeeb Ur Rahman" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-481477" class="wp-caption-text">Mujeeb Ur Rahman. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The 20-year-old off-spinner hailing from Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, might seem too young to feature in the Under-rated XI from current cricketers. However, the young rookie’s stats narrate a different story.

Despite churning out many match-winning performances for Afghanistan in his short cricket career of five years, Rahman has often been shadowed by the two decorated Afghan spinners including <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rashid-khan-set-to-join-lahore-qalandars-for-the-remaining-pakistan-super-league-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashid Khan</a> and Mohammad Nabi.

Mujeeb has scalped a stunning 70 scalps in just 43 One Day Internationals. He has an average of 22.0 which puts him in the top five ODI bowlers with the best bowling average in this decade (minimum 50 wickets). Along with that, his economy rate of 3.96 is also one of the best in the entire cricket fraternity.

Since his debut in 2017, the Khost-born has delivered many amazing performances and is likely to finish his cricket career as one of the best spinners to have played the gentlemen’s game in the modern era.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-455045" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ishant-Sharma.jpg" alt="Ishant Sharma" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-455045" class="wp-caption-text">Ishant Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Whenever someone talks about India’s decorated pace attack, one of the few names to pop out are Jasprit Bumrah, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sometimes-i-ask-him-was-it-my-wicket-or-yours-mohammed-shami-on-virat-kohlis-wild-celebrations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mohammed Shami</a>, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, while glorifying the aforementioned players, one often forgets the cricketer who has been there with the Indian team since 2007. Ishant Sharma deserves the same amount of love and admiration, if not more, as Bumrah, Shami, and Bhuvneshwar.

The 32-year-old has played a key role in making India’s pace attack the best in the world especially in the purest format of the game. Ishant has played a whopping 101 Test matches for India picking 303 wickets at an economy rate of 3.17 and an average of 32.3.

The Delhi stalwart also has impressive numbers under his belt in One Day Internationals but his ODI career came to an abrupt halt to the emergence of young pacers. In 80 ODIs, Sharma has scalped 115 wickets at an economy rate of 5.72 and an average of 31.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-400882" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ashton-Agar.jpg" alt="Ashton Agar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-400882" class="wp-caption-text">Ashton Agar. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The Australian Cricket team has some of the best players in their squad including Steve Smith, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/david-warner-reunites-with-his-wife-and-kids-afer-ipl-2021-suspension/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Warner</a>, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, and many more. However, among so many decorated players, there’s one cricketer who has often flown under the radar and hardly receives recognition for his efforts and skill set.

This player has to be the spin all-rounder Ashton Agar. The 27-year-old kick-started his career for Australia’s national cricket team in 2013 with a Test match against England. Though Agar could never cement his place in the Test side as he was dropped after just two Test matches, the spinner has a decent number in T20Is and ODIs.

In 32 T20 Internationals, Ashton has picked 38 wickets at an economy rate of 6.87 along with 176 runs. He has also scored 217 runs in 14 One Day Internationals and has picked 12 wickets at at economy rate of 5.57.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-75959" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kemar-Roach.jpg" alt="Kemar Roach" width="600" height="416" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-75959" class="wp-caption-text">West Indies bowler Kemar Roach. AFP PHOTO/ MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Another Caribbean player to feature in the Under-rated XI is <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/west-indies-vs-sri-lanka-kemar-roach-castles-resolute-lahiru-thirimanne-with-a-peach/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kemar Roach</a>. The right-arm fast bowler hailing from Barbados has a lot of variations to his disposal both with the new ball and in the death overs. Kemar generates tremendous pace and has the ability to rattle the opposition batters by bowling toe-crushing yorkers.

The speed merchant made his debut for West Indies in 2009 in a Test fixture against Bangladesh. The 32-year-old has stunning records in both Tests and ODIs but it won’t be wrong to say that he is one of the most under-rated fast bowlers of recent times.

Despite picking 214 scalps in just 63 Test matches at an economy rate of 3.09 and an average of 27.7, Roach isn’t counted as one of the best fast bowlers. The right-hander has also featured in 92 One Day Internationals picking 124 wickets at an economy rate of 5.06 and an average of 30.3.

While a handful of players received their share of appreciation and love from the fans, there remains a sea of players who were overshadowed by some other cricketers.

Under-rated XI from current cricketers

Cricket is considered one of the most famous sports as it garners a lot of attention and love from people all across the globe. There are

Under-rated XI from current cricketers

While a handful of players received their share of appreciation and love from the fans, there remains a sea of players who were overshadowed by some other cricketers.

6. Fawad Alam