Worst player you've ever seen?

Tyberious Funk

Premiership Player
May 13, 2005
3,101
4,130
Melbourne
AFL Club
West Coast
Worse than Chris Martin?

Bruce Reid was completely clueless with a bat in his hand.

Chris Martin was completely clueless and afraid of the ball*

So yeah, I'd rate Martin as the worst I've ever seen with a bat.

New Zealand have some great candidates for this thread -- my personal pick is Murphy Su'a. Although, I'm mostly basing it on the fact that he was utterly spanked in Australia (his record against other countries is limited, but not terrible). Or Mark Haslam who played four tests and averaged over 120 (at least his economy rate wasn't too bad).

Personally, I like Ken Rutherford who wasn't exactly a terrible player. But you have to consider that he played 56 Tests, and averaged less than 30. And they made him captain. I reckon he'd have to have one of the worst records for a specialist batsman that played a decent number of tests. Maybe Mike Brearley -- who at least had the distinction of being a very good captain. Rutherford wasn't even that.

* Not a criticism -- I wouldn't be getting behind the bat facing up against the likes of Brett Lee, Shoab Akhtar or Dale Steyn.
 
Personally, I like Ken Rutherford who wasn't exactly a terrible player. But you have to consider that he played 56 Tests, and averaged less than 30. And they made him captain. I reckon he'd have to have one of the worst records for a specialist batsman that played a decent number of tests. Maybe Mike Brearley -- who at least had the distinction of being a very good captain. Rutherford wasn't even that.

Rutherford has the second worst batting average in tests for a specialist batsman with more than 50 tests.

As an aside, Mohammed Ashraful was bloody shithouse. 61 tests at an average of 24 with the bat, and only 21 wickets in total at an average of 61
 
May 5, 2016
43,471
48,508
AFL Club
Geelong
Rutherford has the second worst batting average in tests for a specialist batsman with more than 50 tests.

As an aside, Mohammed Ashraful was bloody shithouse. 61 tests at an average of 24 with the bat, and only 21 wickets in total at an average of 61

Even worse when you consider that he scored a ton in the first of those 61 tests.

Actually I think Rutherford might have scored one on debut as well.

Devon Smith is in that category of being the worst to play for a long time. Sherwin Campbell as well.
But the thing about any player who gets that many tests is that they obviously do what's required either domestically, or every time they're close to being dropped in tests, to stay in the equation. Campbell was a good example of that.
 
Jul 6, 2015
1,365
3,011
AFL Club
Carlton
Even worse when you consider that he scored a ton in the first of those 61 tests.

Actually I think Rutherford might have scored one on debut as well.

Devon Smith is in that category of being the worst to play for a long time. Sherwin Campbell as well.
But the thing about any player who gets that many tests is that they obviously do what's required either domestically, or every time they're close to being dropped in tests, to stay in the equation. Campbell was a good example of that.

Rutherford started with 2 ducks. Total of 12 runs in his first 7 innings, was against a fairly decent West Indies attack.
 

ioppolo

This only ends one way.
Oct 3, 2010
27,266
25,721
Perth
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Chelsea, OKC Thunder, Scorchers
Even worse when you consider that he scored a ton in the first of those 61 tests.

Actually I think Rutherford might have scored one on debut as well.

Devon Smith is in that category of being the worst to play for a long time. Sherwin Campbell as well.
But the thing about any player who gets that many tests is that they obviously do what's required either domestically, or every time they're close to being dropped in tests, to stay in the equation. Campbell was a good example of that.
Ah Devon Smith. Absolutely dominated domestic level.
 

Hellgood

Cancelled
10k Posts
May 21, 2006
10,084
8,713
WA
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
Rutherford has the second worst batting average in tests for a specialist batsman with more than 50 tests.

As an aside, Mohammed Ashraful was bloody shithouse. 61 tests at an average of 24 with the bat, and only 21 wickets in total at an average of 61

Depends how you define shithouse. I mean his best was outstanding and he produced it against some top quality opposition, but his inconsistency and down patches were horrendous. I reckon the thread is more for the mediocre who never reached any great heights.
 
Jun 23, 2008
33,485
27,225
Headed for Kirribilli House
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Norwood, Everton, Detroit Red Wings
As an aside, Mohammed Ashraful was bloody shithouse. 61 tests at an average of 24 with the bat, and only 21 wickets in total at an average of 61

I'm pretty sure Ashraful was considered the most naturally talented player Bangladesh had produced prior to Shakib Al-Hasan. That along with a general lack of depth is why he had so many chances.
 

Docker82

Norm Smith Medallist
Jun 21, 2013
8,661
14,219
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
I didn't watch those two games but surely for anyone who did Andrew Johns would take the cake. Maybe unfair on the guy considering he wasn't even a cricketer but still would be close to the worst if not the worst for anyone that saw those games.

Outside that for me the worst players I've seen:

Test Cricket for Australia: Michael Beer
BBL: Scott Coyte
First Class/List A: Shawn Gillies

I'm also going to nominate Shaun Tait here. If you ignore what he's done previously I honestly think his 2016/17 BBL campaign would put him right in discussions. This thread is about the worst player you've seen, not necessarily who had the most failed career overall. Shame as he was a gun bowler on his day 8-10 years ago. T20 just isn't made for guys who bowl 145km/hr (10 km/hr slower than his best at least) with next to no control though.


On iPad using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
Back