Brent Arnel - New Zealand - Bowler

A tall quick who has modeled his action on Shane Bond, Arnel hasn't had the career that he would have hoped for. At an young age he was thrown out of junior cricket because he bowled too quick and was soon playing with the bigger boys. He plays for the Northern Districts back home in New Zealand and strong performances when he took 33 wickets earned him a place in the A squad for the tour to India in 2006.

But he didn't break into the strong New Zealand side and yet another successful A tour against the England Lions gave him an opportunity against India in 2009. He didn't get a game, but an injury to Andy McKay on the tour to Bangladesh in 2010 opened another door and he was given a chance.

He made his debut against Australia in 2010 at home and immediately made an impression taking 5 wickets in the two games he played. He troubled Simon Katich from round-the-wicket and bowled with good pace and hostility. He recorded career-best figures of 4/95 against Pakistan in 2011, but soon found himself out of the contracted players' list as the New Zealand think-tank dropped him keeping in mind his age and his fragile fitness levels.

He last played a Test against South Africa in March 2012, considering his age and the crop of fast bowlers currently playing for the Kiwis it looks like the end of the road for Arnel.

Interesting fact: Brent Arnel was very good at basketball too as a kid and he had to choose between cricket and the former. Arnel choose Cricket.

By Srivathsa
As of April 2014