5 Cricketers Who Were Game Changers In 2017

With just a few more matches left for the year to culminate, here are some players who put on unexpectedly brilliant performances in the various formats. These unbeknownst cricketers are arranged in the magnitude of the shock factor as well as momentousness of their exploits in the calendar year thus far. While the unforeseen efforts of experienced cricketers are not taken into consideration for this particular segment, only those with a handful of appearances are examined in order to fulfill the titular criteria. Quite a few batsmen and bowlers, who were not expected to excel, made a mockery of predictions by stealing the limelight. In all three formats of the game, let us take a close look at five such cricketers whose game-changing exploits surprised one and all during this calendar year.

* Keshav Maharaj

From ten Tests in 2017, Maharaj notched consistent performances across a wide variety of conditions. On the predominantly seam-friendly surfaces in New Zealand, he bucked the trend by topping the bowling charts with as many as 15 scalps from the three matches. His career best haul of 6/40 propelled the visitors to a series-sealing victory in Wellington. With India and Australia visiting his shores for high-profile assignments, Maharaj will get plenty of opportunities next year to further his progress in Tests.

43 wickets from 10 Tests at an average of 24.76 and strike-rate of 49.3 with two five-wicket hauls.

* Yuzvendra Chahal

When the year began, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were India's primary spin duo across all three formats. A relentless Test season saw both spinners rested for T20I series against England. During the deciding clash, Yuzvendra Chahal emerged from nowhere and became the first Indian bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul in T20Is. His 6/25 spun the visitors into submission on a viciously turning track at Bengaluru.

21 wickets from 14 ODIs at an average of 28.57 and economy-rate of 4.95

19 wickets from 10 T20Is at an average of 14.36 and economy-rate of 7.28 with one five-wicket haul.

* Shai Hope

Even as eminently respected cricketing minds like Ian Bishop continued to speak highly of him, Shai Hope's initial exploits on the field did not match up to the hype spawned off the field. In fact, from his first seven Tests, the right-hander could only muster a measly average of 17.15 with a highest score of 41. Then, the tide began to turn and how. 2017 has been a watershed moment in Hope's career. The talented Bajan played ten Tests in this calendar year and scored 773 runs at an impressive average of a shade over 45.

773 runs from 10 Tests at an average of 45.47 with two centuries and three fifties.

* Fakhar Zaman

Replacing Ahmed Shehzad at the top of the order, Zaman immediately made a mark by instilling much needed intent to Pakistan's batting lineup. The opener followed a 31 on debut with half-centuries against Sri Lanka and England. But he had reserved his best for the final. After being reprieved by Jasprit Bumrah's ill-fated no-ball, Zaman barnstormed his way to a career-defining century against India in the summit clash. The left-hander's belligerent 114 set the foundation for Pakistan's emphatic triumph in the final.

400 runs from 9 ODIs at an average of 44.44 and strike-rate of 100.5 with one century and two fifties.

* Steve O'Keefe

Some may allude to West Indies overpowering England at Headingley or Pakistan eviscerating highly-rated teams en route to their Champions Trophy triumph as the upsets of the year. However, in terms of sheer magnitude of the result, none of them come close to Australia's humbling of the top-ranked India on a rank turner in Pune. Into the fifth Test of his stop-gap career, O'Keefe produced one of the most astonishing bowling performances in modern history. Although he subsequently managed to smear the then recently accrued momentum under the influence of alcohol, the left-arm spinner had played an instrumental role in breaking Australia's Test drought in Asia.

25 wickets from 6 Tests at an average of 26.92 and strike-rate of 62.7 with two five-wicket hauls.