Underrated Modern Test Players: It is usually the big names that dominate the narrative when it comes to Test cricket. The likes of Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes are often credited for keeping the Test cricket flag flying high. Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson get their fair share of credit as they attach a lot of importance to Tests. In the newer crop of players, Rishabh Pant has played a huge part in the revival of Test cricket. Harry Brook has shown what it takes to enjoy and succeed at the Test level.
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The challenge of Test Cricket:
There are many cricketers even in contemporary cricket who rate this format as the best. The ebb and flow of Test cricket is unmatchable. Hence it is a challenge that only a few overcome. But the nature of the beast is such that not always the best get recognized. These bunch of players go about their business in a calm and composed manner. They don’t want the eyeballs as much as their other celebrated peers.
We look at a few such underrated modern Test players:
#3 Dimuth Karunaratne
He is one of the most grossly underrated Test players in recent memory. Dimuth Karunaratne remains the only Asian captain to lead his side to a Test series win in South Africa. In an age where Test batting has been tough and opening batting even more so, Karunaratne has been a standout. The Lankan opener averages an impressive 41.3 in 86 Tests. He has scored 6,524 runs comprising 16 centuries. His numbers are special as they come for a side that has struggled in the longest format for quite some time now.
#2 Alex Carey
He is one of those typical lower middle-order batters who could frustrate opponents. Alex Carey goes about his business in a very unassuming manner. He is a solid wicketkeeper who hardly drops anything that comes to him or near his vicinity. Carey has affected 68 dismissals so far in his 20-Test career.
He is a handy batsman who transfers the pressure onto the bowlers really quickly. Just when the opposition might feel that they are into the tail, Carey stands tall in their way. For someone who bats in at number 7, his average of 34.9 and strike rate of 60.6 is more than passable.
#1 Shakib Al Hasan
In the discussion of the world’s leading allrounders, he is not a regular name. It is always Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and even Jason Holder for that matter who get a mention. But there is very little doubt that over a period of close to two decades, it has been Shakib Al Hasan who has been a shining light. Hasan has singlehandedly carried the mantle of Bangladesh cricket with both bat and the ball.
He averages a decent 39.1 with the bat while his bowling average is a respectable 31.1. There are very few elite all-rounders in the game who boast of such numbers. Hasan is right up there with the best in the game’s history. He is certainly the most underrated of them all in the modern game.
