World Cricket – Cricketing One Hit Wonders

What makes a One-Hit Wonder in the world of cricket? In the music industry it literally means just that. A band or pop star comes out of nowhere and makes an absolute hit, and then fades out of existence. I don’t know, maybe you think of Vanilla Ice? But in cricket, it is slightly different. I think One-Hit Wonder in world cricket terms is a player known for absolutely outstanding performance.

They may have had a career before and after, but it all pales in the face of their big moment in the sun. Maybe it’s cruel to single out some of those players. Maybe they’re sick of hearing about THAT moment, but if the moment is particularly notable, then it’s worth remembering and discussing, even if the player never got anywhere near that moment ever again.

The idea for this article was born from a recent trip to the MCG. I was there watching a recent South Africa defeat of Australia in the first ODI of the recent Commonwealth Bank Series. In the midst of a jovial cricket discussion, I found myself reminiscing about fond memories I’ve had on the pitch.

dean headley

Perhaps one of the best came in the 1998/1999 Ashes series when I watched a young bulldozer named Dean Headley completely destroy a then-dominant Aussie batting card.

Now, Dean Headley was quite a successful bowler in his short time in the England team. He played his first Test against Australia in Manchester in 1997, but by the Manchester Test against New Zealand in 1999, his Test career was over. Headley took 60 wickets in 15 Tests at 27:85, a very good start to any career, but injury and ridiculous England selection policy at the time meant that Headley would really only be remembered for one outstanding performance.

The Ashes’ fourth Test at the MCG saw Alec Stewart and Steve Waugh make the first innings centuries for their respective sides, as Australia led by 70 runs after their first innings. England then managed just 244, with Graeme Hick top-scoring on 60. This left the Australians, then Michael Slater, the Waugh twins, Mark Taylor and Justin Langer, with 175 points to win. It was at this stage that I witnessed one of the most outstanding bowling efforts I have ever seen.

Headley’s figures:

17 Overs 5 Maidens 6 wkts for 60 runs

It was amazing from a man in his second season of cricket. Ruling out the likes of Slater, Waugh and Lehmann, as well as cheating the bowlers, Headley was unplayable. England won the game by 12 runs, were beaten in the series, but Headley’s performance was something to remember from a disappointing English touring team.

Antony Stuart

Perhaps an even better example of a One-Hit Wonder is Australia’s Anthony Stuart. Stuart played just 3 ODIs for Australia, but amazingly this included a hat-trick against Pakistan at the MCG in 1996-7. The hat-trick included Pakistani legends Ijaz Ahmed and Moin Kahn, as well as Mohammad Wasim.

Stuart finished with the figures:

10 Overs 1 Maiden 5 weeks for 26 runs

What makes this the perfect One-Hit Wonder moment is the fact that Stuart never played for Australia again and was in fact dropped from their state team within 12 months.

matthew sinclair

Our last example today is a man who will forever be burdened by his extraordinary start to try cricket. New Zealand’s Mathew Sinclair scored two century doubles in his first 12 Test matches. The first, in his debut, against the West Indies in 1999, who still had Courtney Walsh on his side. The second was against Pakistan the following summer. Sinclair has gone on to play 32 Tests in 10 years, a true sign that he has failed to secure a place in the team. I suppose Sinclair is truly a Two-Hit Wonder, but he is perhaps the best example of a player who felt overwhelmed by his outstanding early performances.

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