THE UNLUCKY DOMESTIC WARHORSES

Sports at times is more luck than skill and it becomes even more important when there is a fight for eleven spots for a national team. Over the years some of the most talented players have missed out in spite of scripting remarkable success at domestic circuit. Today we bring you some of the modern day domestic greats who are yet to play International cricket.

1. Sadaf Hussain ( Age -28, Team - Khan Research Laboratories) It will always be a mystery why Sadaf Hussain has not been able to make it to Pakistan’s national team. An impressive record, a clean image, a disciplined personality yet in spite of laboring for almost a decade on Pakistan’s domestic circuit Sadaf has never been able to represent the national side. His record of 394 wickets in 84 matches at an unbelievable average of 18.61 is something which cannot be easily overlooked. In an interview, some time back Sadaf who have been pretenseful till now broke down and with tears in his eyes asked “ where is justice for me”. Some of the comparatively lesser talented players have been able to breakthrough in the team but selectors have overlooked the Chakwal pacer. At 28 the time seems to be running out but Sadaf still believes that his dream will be fulfilled one day.

 

Sadaf Hussain - Waiting for his opportunity

2. Chanaka Komasuru (Age 35, Team - Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club )  It was raining in November evening in Matara, A 35-year-old sitting in the verandah of his house was looking to the sky as if asking when his prayers will be answered but deep inside Chanaka Komasuru knows that it seems his time has passed and the elusive Sri Lankan Test cap might only remain a dream unfulfilled. In recent years Sri Lanka has shown a penchant of giving spinners chance at a late age. Rangana Herath got it when he was 31, Perera has become a leader at 36 and Malinda Pushpakumara has returned at 31. Still, Komasuru feels that he has almost no chance to play for his side and for a man who has 541 first-class wickets in 141 first-class matches in over 17 years of a career ( along with with 106 List wickets in 83 matches at 19.84) it wouldn’t be wrong to say that life has been unfair to him considering he hasn’t got a single chance in any format.

Chanaka Komasuru has 500 First Class wickets yet no international caps

3. Nikita Miller (Age 36, Team - Jamaica ) Since 2005 onwards West Indies pitches have changed a lot and it is evident in lopsided nature of these surfaces where spinners have been creating havoc, in spite of this Nikita Miller’s domestic record cannot be overlooked. 97 first-class matches and 509 wickets at an astonishing average of 16.45 with 32 five wicket hauls and 10 ten wicket haul in the match. Such a player should be drafted in the team as soon as possible. However, it would be surprising to know that Miller had just played one test almost 10 years back in 2009 in a second string side. Since then he has been churning wickets after wickets but has failed to impress the selectors, as a result, the marathon man of Carribean Cricket has just solitary test to show. The pitches in The Caribbean have been reasoned as his success rather than his ability. His average performance in limited overs has also not helped his cause. At 37 it seems he is nearing to the end of his career without fulfilling the promises.

538 wickets at 16.31 and Just 1 test, Is the success of Nikita Millar is because of Wickets only?

4. Shahbaz Nadeem (Age 29- Jharkhand) Its been a long journey for Nadeem,14 years, 106 matches and 401 wickets but he has never been able to reach to the Indian cap for which every cricketer aspires. While it is true that India has been blessed with some of the quality spinners but over the years while the team have tried a number of them however for Nadeem’s unlucky he has not only been born in an era when India have settled spinners but also to the factor that he have played with a low profile team in domestic scenario over the years he has continued to perform in the domestic cricket and taking wickets after wickets but have never been able to make even to the limited overs final eleven even after having a remarkable economy. Nadeem has been very patient with the selection and have never shown his frustration but he also knows time is running out. This year he will turn 30 but the wait still continues.

Shahbaz Nadeem - Another Domestic Warhorse

5. Pieter Malan (Age 29 -Cape Cobras) A very talented cricketer who was identified right at an early age in U19 World Cup in 2019. Malan was unlucky that his career ran parallel to some great cricketers in the South African team. However, in spite of all this a batsman of his caliber was expected to donned South African can a long time ago. He has continued to show his talent in domestic games. He has 9813 runs in 140 First Class games with staggering 30 centuries and 42 half centuries. What surprises more is that he is all format batsman who has a very good record in List A games as well. However with the retirement of AB Devilliers and Hashim Amla on the verge of retirement. There are a number of slots which are vacant on the national side and on positive note players like Aiden Markram, Zubair Hamza (Tests) Janeman Malan( T-20) Rassie van der Dussen (ODI) have been given chances and there is a glimmer of hope that this extraordinary talented batsman will, at last, get a chance to wear his country’s cap sooner than later.

Piter Malan at 29 , Will he get a chance ?

6. Greg Hay (Age 34, Central Districts): Another talented player who has been waiting for his chance from a long time, however, have been unlucky. It's been 13 years when Greg Hay made his debut for Central Districts. Since then he has been a vital cog in Central Districts plans. On March 21, 2019, he became first central district captain in last 51 years to have helped Central Districts to have won two consecutive Plunket Shield title. Hay has scored over 5000 runs in 74 matches at an impressive average of 43.34 with 13 hundred as well. During an era when New Zealand started the search for a replacement of Brendon McCullum in the batting order New Zealand preferred younger players like Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Tom Latham to fill the gap rather than Hay who though was experienced but was already 30 plus. However, considering the fact that this is the decade where teams have given chance to late bloomers, Hay’s penchant of playing long innings cannot be ignored. Last December he batted for almost 10 and half hours to score a magnificent 226 runs. Hay, however, knows that at 34 his chances are slim if not over to get the New Zealand Test Cap.

Greg Hay, another consistent performer 

Success at International Cricket requires a lot of luck who can better know than Brad Hodge or Martin Love or Rajendra Goyal who was born in wrong times or Misbah ul Haq who was about to retire before his career got the wings to fly at 36. We hope these domestic warhorses also get the chance, better being late than never.