Top 10 finishers in the history of cricket

Dec 12, 2017 at 12:57 PM

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Top 10 finishers in the history of cricket

In the history of cricket, like openers and top order batsmen, finishers are also important. They are an integral part of a team. They give an impetus to the team which makes them formidable. When a team struggles a finisher comes to rescue for them or play a quick innings to add some extra runs to a total that becomes a formidable one.

In the past, finishers have helped thier team to win the World Cup final or helped the team to qualify for the final.

Here are top 10 finishers of the world.

Viv Richards :

This West Indies batting great has won two World Cups with his team. He helped West Indies to win the 1975 and 1979 World Cup. His destructive batting was fearsome to every bowler around the world. He was the first cricketer to bring swagger to cricket.  He was a middle order West Indies batsman. Famous West Indies openers Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge used to build big innings, while chasing a total Richards could win the game or add some quick runs to an already formidable total.

AB de Villiers: 

Like Richards, he also comes to bat a bit late in the order. After Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla give South Africa a good start Faf du Plessis  generally build a partnership with Amla. They often do most of the work for South Africa. AB de Villiers often swap his position. He sometimes comes to bat No. 4 or No. 6. In 2015 January, he scored the fastest hundred against West Indies. His 31 ball hundred, the fastest in the history, changed the hue of the match.

In 2016 India tour he smashed an 119 off 61 balls at Wankhede in the fifth and final ODI .

Aravinda De Silva: He is the best ever finisher in the history of Sri Lankan cricket. He was as cool as ice. He often dragged a struggling Sri Lankan team to the competitive total. In one of the 1996 World Cup matches Sri Lankan were shivering at 23 for 2, de Silva came to bat. He batted with determination.  His innings is still regarded as the best ever ODI innings as his innings helped Sri Lanka to win a crucial World Cup match.

Mark Boucher: One of the greatest ever wicketkeepers Mark Boucher is the last pillar of South Africa’s middle order. He used to add some quick runs to South Africa’s total or his quick but sensible innings used to help South Africa to chase down a big total.  One of the memorable innings Boucher played was his 47 runs unbeaten innings against the Australian in 2006 at New Wanders, Johannesburg. In a historic match, Australia scored a mountainous 434 in 50 overs. In reply, South Africa lost the wicket of Boeta Dippenaar early, but the partnership of Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs surprised Australia and fear looms over the Australian side that South Africa will chase down the historic total.  Yes, South Africa did, after losing Smith (90), Gibbs (175) Mark Boucher kept the path to victory clear. Boucher was unbeaten on 50. He played the last boundary through the long leg boundary with Makhaya Ntini on the nonstriking end.

Abdul Razzak: In the history of Pakistan cricket, Razzak is can be termed as the best allrounder after legendary Imran Khan. Razzak contributed both with his medium pace and swashbuckling batting. One of Razzak’s great innings came against England in 2005 when he scored 47 not out  in 11 balls to help Pakistan to win a match. Razak failed to complete the fastest half century. Razzak also scored a hundred in Sharjah as a middle order batsman.

Lance Klusener: The South African allrounder’s performance in 1999 World Cup sent many cricket fans around the world in a frenzy. Klusener performed both with the bat and ball. His power hitting helped South Africa win matches in that World Cup. But he became a tragic hero after South Africa failed to win the semifinal against Australia. Allan Donald failed to hear a call from Klusener for a single.

His best bowling performance was 8 wickets while conceding just 10 runs. Bac to the world cup where he has taken 17 wickets and scored 250 runs, as a result he was awarded the man of the sereis tournamnet.  

Javed Miandad:  Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad is one of the  most prolific batsmen in the history of cricket. He was as calm as ice, but he has an ability to agitate the opponent. He was prolific but have the caliber to be explosive if needed.  His best ever chase against India in Sharjah when he finished the match with a six in the last ball of the match. His six on the last ball of the match is part of cricketing folklore in the history India and Pakistan.

Mike Hussey:  He was a late bloomer in cricket. He was affectionately called as Mr. Cricket. He was as cool as ice.  His batting changed as per the requirement of the format. In ODIs Hussey can start slowly but steadily. As a middle order batsman during the death overs of Australia’s innings, he pulls and drive and  constant one and  twos between the wicket helped Australia to score a big total or ensure victory. In T20 format, he is an explosive batsman.

MS Dhoni: Indian skipper emerged as the best ever “finishers” in modern day cricket. He started his career as a pinch-hitter. He hit some of the big and lusty shots. He scored 148 against Pakistan and 183  against Sri Lanka. But as he became captain he switched his batting position. From a pinch hitter, Dhoni has become a middle order batsman, and is damn good at that.  His 91 run unbeaten innings at No. 4 in the final of 2011 World Cup, which helped India to win the World Cup after 28 years, is regard as his best ever innings at a big tournament.

Michael Bevan:  Australian middle-order batsman was an integral part of invincible Australia. His modus operandi was to score in ones and twos. His running between the wickets helped Australia a lot when they lost their top order early. During the 2003 World Cup Australia struggled against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Pakistan, but Bevan stood like a pillar for the Australians. They gave Australia’s formidable bowling attack a total to defend.

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