4 Great players who played fewer than 25 Tests
We will look at a few players who have had a big impact at the international level for their respective sides, but have managed to play very few tests for various reasons of their own.
Many careers were shortlived because of a series of injuries and few had to miss out because of the great competition that exists at the international level.
#1 Shane Bond
The tall, fast, fearsome NewZealander is definitely one of the great players in this list. Bond’s career was short-lived because of various injuries. He had a back problem in 2003 that led to nearly two years out and an operation in which his spine was fused with titanium wire.
He even had issues with his knees, feet and other body parts. But the Kiwi left a significant mark in his short career. In his 18 test matches, he picked up 87 wickets at a fantastic average of 22.09 and strike rate of 38.88. He had a beautiful athletic action and would swing in the ball lately and his 150-plus kph toe-crushing yorkers were unplayable, to say the least.
He was one of the first bowlers to break the 150 kph barrier. Even his ODI career was short-lived as he managed to play only 82 games for the blackcaps. He had a fantastic World Cup campaign, taking 17 wickets at an impressive average of 17.94.
On one occasion, Bond took the great Ricky Ponting’s wicket in each of the six consecutive games. Bond always upped his game against Australia, and it was a sign of his great skill that he took 44 ODI wickets at 15.79 against them. Bond is described by many fans as "New Zealand's best fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee.”
Currently, Bond is working with the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians as its bowling coach.