FIVE OTHERS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED IN THE BIG TIME

MATTHEW MAYNARD

Tests 4 (1988-94); runs 87; average 10.88; HS 35.

Joining the rebel tour of South Africa in 1988 did not help Maynard's cause. His best innings was his penultimate against West Indies in the first Test in Kingston on the 1994 tour, but a duck next time around and indifferent form in the one-day internationals saw Maynard replaced by Mark Ramprakash.

FRANK HAYES

Tests 9 (1973-76); runs 244; average 15.25; HS 106*.

After scores of 94 and 99 in his first two county matches he made a brilliant start to his Test career with an unbeaten second-innings century against West Indies at The Oval, but that was it. Hayes, who hit 23 hundreds in his 15-year first-class career, then failed to reach 30 in 15 Test innings.

MARK LATHWELL

Tests 2 (1993); runs 78; average 19.50; HS 33.

Somerset's young opener made his debut, at 21, against Australia in 1993 but was dropped for Mike Atherton's first Test in charge. Somerset accused England of picking him too soon, saying, rightly, his confidence was shattered. His form picked up for 1994, but last summer runs were once again rare.

RICHARD BLAKEY

Tests 2; runs 7; average 1.75; HS 6.

In the search for a wicketkeeper who could bat, Blakey fitted the bill. By the tour of India he had nine first-class hundreds and an average which topped 30. However, in his four innings on the subcontinent he displayed ineptitude at the crease and only picked up a couple of catches behind the stumps.

CHRIS TAVARE

Tests 30 (1980-84); runs 1,753; average 33.07; HS 149.

Initial failures in his opening two Tests against the West Indies resulted in Tavare eschewing his fluent driving and incisive cutting for a defensive style, and his Test recall against Australia at Old Trafford in 1981 was marked by spending almost 12 hours at the crease for a total, in both innings, of 147 runs.