5 successful Test cricketers who did not achieve great heights in ODI cricket

ODI cricket started in 1970 and gradually gained popularity in next two decades. Being known as the 'shorter format', the success of ODI cricket was primarily because of the pace at which it is played and result-oriented nature. Hence ODI has become the most widely played format since the 1990s.

The cricketing calendar usually has more ODIs than Test matches because of the fact that they occupy only one day. It is very common to find players who have played more ODIs than Tests because of the frequency. Let us take a look at 5 players who played more Tests than ODIS.

Note: Only those players who made their international debut in 1990 or after have been considered since ODI cricket was not the most popular form of the game in 1970s and 1980s. Also, only those cricketers who have played 50 or more Tests having been considered.

#5 Justin Langer (105 Tests, 8 ODIs)

The Australian opener is the only cricketer to play 100+ tests and less than 10 ODIS in post World-Cup era. Langer formed a great test opening pair with his fellow teammate Matthew Hayden in the early 2000s but was never on the fringes of ODI selection in the best years of his career. His last ODI appearance came in 1997, when he was 26 i.e. 10 years before his international retirement. However, for his 7696 runs and 23 centuries, he will always be remembered as a Test legend.

#4 Alastair Cook (152 Tests, 92 ODIs)

The Essex opener is the only English batsman to cross 10000 Test runs mark. But Cook has never been able to convert his success into shorter formats of the game. Once England's ODI skipper, Cook was sacked a couple of months before the 2015 World Cup after a horrendous tour of Sri Lanka. After England brought in a radical change in the ODI setup post 2015 World Cup, it is unlikely that Cook will add anymore to his tally of 92 ODIS. However, the 200-Test mark awaits the England legend.

#3 VVS Laxman (134 Tests, 86 ODIs)

The legend Indian middle order batsman, regarded as a Test specialist did not spend as much time in ODI cricket as he did in test cricket. A 134-test veteran, Laxman has represented India only 86 times in the limited-overs format during the course of his career. Quite often, he was considered back-up for Tendulkar, Sehwag, Ganguly and Dravid and did not cement his spot in the team for long. In his little career, he has played crucial knocks and has also proved to be Australia's nemesis as he was in Test cricket.

#2 Rangana Herath (89 Tests, 71 ODIs)

The Sri Lankan spin stalwart was a late bloomer in ODI cricket, as he made his ODI debut 5 years after his Test debut. For a major part of his career, Herath remained under the shadow of Muralitharan. After Murali's retirement, Sri Lanka opted to invest in young spinners and did not consider Herath as long-term prospect in ODI cricket. Herath holds the record for most wickets by a left-arm bowler in Test cricket, surpassing Wasim Akram.

#1 Cheteshwar Pujara (57 Tests, 5 ODIs)

Cheteshwar Pujara is someone who is tailor-made for Test cricket. He stands out among the other Indian batsmen because of his patience and ability to bat for long hours. The Saurashtra batsman, who was never truly considered to be ODI material, was pushed into the one-day team in 2013. He played 5 ODIS for India and failed to score big in any of these. Finally, the selectors lost their patience and stopped investing in Pujara for the 50 over format. Even though he hasn't announced his retirement from the ODI format, it is hard to believe that India will turn to Pujara again for ODI cricket.