10 Australian players who failed to live up to their potential

4. Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh

A consistent domestic summer followed by his exploits in the inaugural season of the IPL earned Shaun Marsh a national call-up in the year 2008. Initially given a chance in the shorter formats, Marsh had to wait three more years before his Test debut. He started off with a bang, becoming one of a select group of Australians to have scored a century on their Test debut.

It seemed like Marsh was here to stay for a long time, but a combination of patchy form and injuries have proven to be his downfall on numerous occasions. One of the lowest moments of his career was when he managed just 17 runs from 4 Tests in the home series against India in 2011/12, at an appalling average of 2.83.

Unlike many others in this list, though, Marsh has a chance to resurrect his career and establish himself in the side. Considering the visual pleasure he gives with his strokeplay, one sincerely hopes he does so.

5. Marcus North

After not getting any rewards for his toil in domestic cricket for many years, Marcus North was finally rewarded with a national call-up in 2009. He showed why he should have got a chance much earlier as he racked up a very fine century on his Test debut against South Africa before adding three more to his tally during the 2009 Ashes series.

However, he failed to maintain his early form for too much longer and he was ultimately dropped from the team during the 2010/11 Ashes series. While the left-hander has continued enjoying relative success at the domestic level, it is unlikely that he will make a comeback at the very highest level.

6. Shaun Tait

Shaun Tait

It is not very often that we get to see bowlers capable of bowling at a speed around 155-160 kmph, but Shaun Tait is one among a rare breed. Perhaps, this is why the fact that Tait has managed to play just 57 international matches (3 Tests, 35 ODIs and 19 T20Is) is a bigger disappointment than it would have otherwise been.

While he has a tendency to be inconsistent, he can win a match on his own on his day courtesy of his raw pace. The drawback of his ability to bowl insanely quick, though, is the fact that he has been hampered by injuries throughout his career and has never been able to sustain his form for a prolonged period.