Wasim Jaffer

A triple-century in only his second first-class game had Wasim Jaffer anointed as the great new hope of Mumbai cricket. He was a slightly-built opening batsman with the style and panache of the young Azharuddin, and much was expected of him on his Test debut in February 2000. But Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock proved too hot to handle - even though he showed glimpses of a steely and unflappable temperament - and his international career was put on hold. He continued to pile on the runs in domestic cricket and a string of big scores in 2001-02 won him a place on the tour of the West Indies. Once there, he stroked his way to two elegant half-centuries, though a worrying tendency to give it away when well set resulted in his losing his place at the top of the order. He reminded the selectors of his quality with some superb batting for the A team on the 2003 tour of England, but spent three years in the domestic wilderness before being recalled to the squad for the third Test against Sri Lanka in 2005-06. He made most of his first chance on return, against England at Nagpur in March 2006, notching up his maiden Test hundred and followed it up with a double against West Indies in June 2006. After losing his place in the Test side to Gautam Gambhir, Jaffer made a strong statement through a bumper Rani season in 2008-09, scoring 1260 runs at 84, including a triple-century. He also captained Mumbai to their 38th and 39th Ranji title, as well as overseeing West Zone's 16th Duleep Trophy success in early 2010.
Cricinfo staff February 2010