In sport, the future reveals itself in different ways. Early success does not always convert into long careers. The reverse is equally true. A poor start can sometimes evolve into a sparkling career. It is not always in the hands of the individual player, though.
The opener Madhav Apte, for example, made an unbeaten century to save a Test in the West Indies in the 1950s, and at the end of seven Tests had an average of 49.27. But he never played for India again. When Ravindra Jadeja, on the other hand, made his Test debut, it surprised many. He was a slow starter, but he is an indispensable part of the side now, with 60 Tests and 242 wickets.
