ICC every year awards an upcoming youngster who excelled in a calendar season with an Emerging Player Award honour. The award was initiated in 2004, Irfan Pathan was the first winner of this prize. Kevin Pietersen, Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara have all been recipients of this award. But there have been a few cricketers who won this prize but could not make it big in their individual careers. Players Who Won ICC Emerging Player Award
StumpsandBails looks at 5 Players Who Won ICC Emerging Player Award but couldn’t make it big in international cricket:
#5 Ajantha Mendis (2008)
Ajantha Mendis had a stellar start to his international career. He bamboozled Indian batsmen with his skill and guile. Mendis singlehandedly demolished India in the Asia Cup finals in 2008. He went on to torment India in the 3-match Test series in 2008. Mendis had a stellar but limited career. He was especially exceptional in the white-ball format. Mendis picked 66 wickets in just 39 T20Is and 152 wickets in 87 ODIs. He last played a game for Sri Lanka in 2015. Mendis had a lot going for him but why did he have such a short career remains a mystery (ironically) even now.
#4 Steven Finn (2010)
Steven Finn won the award in 2010. He was expected to form a potent combination with James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Finn had the height and pace to trouble the best of the batsmen. He has played 36 Tests, 69 ODI’s, and 21 T20I’s for England. But currently, an England comeback is well beyond him. A career that promised so remains largely unfulfilled.
#3 Devendra Bishoo (2011)
Devendra Bishoo had a big season in his very first year of international cricket in 2011. He gave a good account of himself in the 2011 ODI World Cup as well. This led to him winning the ICC Emerging Player Award in 2011. However, the Windies expected a lot from him. Bishoo was a conventional leg-spinner who flattered to deceive.
#2 Gary Balance (2014)
Gary Ballance made rapid strides in international cricket soon after his debut. He looked set to fill the big shoes of a player like Andrew Strauss. However, his career spiralled pretty quickly. Ballance has played 23 Tests and 16 ODI’s. But he is currently nowhere in the pecking order to represent England.
#1 Shaun Tait (2007)
Shaun Tait was touted to be the next big thing in world cricket. He was looked in at Brett Lee’s successor who could blow away teams on his day. Tait had a stellar 2007 ODI World Cup where he filled in beautifully for Brett Lee’s absence. But there was nothing much to talk about his career post the event. He was built up to demolish India at Perth but he ended up conceding runs at 5 per over. The Perth Test took a huge mental toll on Tait.
Tait represented Australia in just 3 Tests, 35 ODI’s, and 21 T20I’s. His story is a fine example of promise gone wrong.
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