5. Sanath Jayasuriya:
The decision to promote Sanath Jayasuriya as an opener changed the game forever. Batting in ODI cricket, in the eighties and early nineties, followed a monotonous order- playing the new ball cautiously and then launch an attack towards the end. However, that changed forever when Jayasuriya started to open the innings. Jayasuriya, who was considered a bowler who could bat a bit in his early days, went all out against the bowlers during the first 15 overs when only two fielders were allowed outside the 30 yard circle. The ploy was later adapted by almost every nation.
The maverick left-hander held the records for the fastest fifty (against Pakistan in 17 balls), fastest 100 (against Pakistan in 48 balls) and fastest 150 (against England in 95 balls) in ODI cricket. It took 19 long years to surpass his record of fastest 50 . He is still the only batsman in cricket history with two consecutive scores of 150+ in ODIs.