Cricket is a sport that involves talent, strategy, and mental fortitude. A finisher, a player who can keep his nerve under pressure and score significant runs in the last overs to ensure a win for their side, is one of the most important responsibilities in a cricket team. Many outstanding finishers in cricket history have acquired a reputation for their ability to end matches with their bat over the years. In this article, we’ll look at the top five best finishers in cricket history and talk about their careers, accomplishments, and effect on the game.
Definition of “Finisher” in Cricket
A finisher in cricket is a batter who is counted on to score runs in the last overs of a limited-overs match in order to secure the team’s victory. Finishers are noted for their poise, ability to assess the game situation, and ability to score runs under duress.
Importance of a Finisher in a Cricket Team
A finisher is crucial to a cricket team’s success, as they often have to bat in high-pressure situations where a single mistake can cost the team the match. The ability to finish a match successfully can mean the difference between a win and a loss, and a good finisher can provide stability and confidence to the rest of the team. Additionally, having a reliable finisher in the team can also provide peace of mind to the captain, who can be confident that the game is in safe hands when the finisher is at the crease.
Top Finishers in Cricket History In ICC
- MS Dhoni
- AB de Villiers
- Michael Bevan
- Kumar Sangakkara
- Jacques Kallis
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni: MS Dhoni, also known as “Captain Cool”, is a former Indian cricketer and one of the greatest finishers in the history of the sport.
- Career highlights: Dhoni made his international debut for India in December 2004 and went on to become one of the greatest Indian cricketers of all time. He has captained India in limited-overs formats, including leading the team to victory in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cup, and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
- Achievements as a finisher: Dhoni is known for his calm and composed demeanor under pressure, which has earned him the nickname “Captain Cool”. He has a vast array of shots and is renowned for his ability to finish matches with his bat, scoring crucial runs in the final overs. Some of his famous finishes include his innings in the final of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he hit the winning six, and his match-winning innings in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time and is considered one of the greatest finishers in cricket history.
Also Read: Top 5 World’s Best Fielders in Cricket
AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers: AB de Villiers, also known as “Mr. 360”, is a former South African cricketer and one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
- Career highlights: de Villiers made his international debut for South Africa in December 2004 and went on to become one of the most versatile batsmen in the sport. He has set numerous records, including the fastest ODI century by a South African and the fastest fifty in all formats of the game. He has also been named ICC ODI Player of the Year three times and has been ranked as the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman several times.
- Achievements as a finisher: de Villiers is known for his ability to score runs in all parts of the ground and his ability to finish matches with his bat. He is also known for his calm demeanor under pressure and his ability to keep his cool in high-pressure situations. Some of his famous finishes include his match-winning century in the quarter-final of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and his innings in the final of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, where he helped South Africa win their first major international trophy. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time and is considered one of the greatest finishers in cricket history.
Michael Bevan
Michael Bevan: Michael Bevan is a former Australian cricketer and one of the greatest finishers in the history of the sport.
- Career highlights: Bevan made his international debut for Australia in January 1994 and went on to become one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time. He is known for his ability to score runs in the closing stages of a limited-overs match and is regarded as one of the greatest finishers in the history of the sport.
- Achievements as a finisher: Bevan is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time, and is particularly known for his ability to finish matches with his bat. He has a high strike rate in the final overs of limited-overs matches, which helped him become one of the greatest finishers in cricket history. Some of his famous finishes include his innings in the semi-final of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he helped Australia secure a win, and his innings in the final of the 2002 Natwest Series, where he scored a match-winning century. He is considered one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time and is remembered as one of the greatest finishers in cricket history.
Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara: Kumar Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
- Career highlights: Sangakkara made his international debut for Sri Lanka in July 2000 and went on to become one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport. He holds numerous records, including the fastest century by a left-handed batsman in ODIs and the most consecutive innings without a duck in ODIs. He has also been named ICC Cricketer of the Year and has been ranked as the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman several times.
- Achievements as a finisher: Sangakkara is known for his ability to finish matches with his bat, scoring crucial runs in the final overs. He has a high strike rate in the final overs of limited-overs matches, which has helped him become one of the greatest finishers in cricket history. Some of his famous finishes include his innings in the final of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, where he helped Sri Lanka secure a win, and his innings in the final of the 2014 Asia Cup, where he scored a match-winning century. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time and is considered one of the greatest finishers in cricket history.
Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis: Jacques Kallis is a former South African cricketer and one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport.
- Career highlights: Kallis made his international debut for South Africa in December 1995 and went on to become one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport. He holds numerous records, including the most runs scored by a South African in Tests and ODIs. He has also been named ICC Cricketer of the Year and has been ranked as the world’s top-ranked Test batsman several times.
- Achievements as a finisher: Kallis is known for his ability to finish matches with his bat, scoring crucial runs in the final overs. He has a high strike rate in the final overs of limited-overs matches, which has helped him become one of the greatest finishers in cricket history. Some of his famous finishes include his innings in the quarter-final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he helped South Africa secure a win, and his innings in the final of the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, where he scored a match-winning century. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport and is considered one of the greatest finishers in cricket history.