Every cricketer works extremely hard towards making their team win and be proud. How one can maintain calm and composure even under the most challenging situations at hand makes the best finisher in the world.
Not every batsman would be able to hit 20-30 runs in quick time in the last overs and bring in the win for the team. This article is about players who have been able to take the match to last over/ball and take the team over the line.
Note: Champion Peoples is not affiliated with any of the finishers listed below
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
One of the greatest finishers of all-time, India legend MS Dhoni revolutionised the art of closing an inning in limited-overs cricket with aplomb. A firm believer in taking an inning and match as deep as possible, MSD’s ability to win matches off the last over was second to none.
Renowned for hitting sixes off the last ball of an inning, Dhoni’s finishing ability wasn’t just appreciated by Indian fans but also by Indian T20 League franchise Chennai, who he led to four Indian T20 League titles and two T20 Champions League trophies. His finishing exploits will probably be most fondly remembered for the 2011 ODI World Cup when he entered the crease with the game hanging firmly in the balance before producing an unbeaten 91 off 79 balls and smashing a six to win India their second 50-over World Cup.
Here are some numbers to back up MS Dhoni as the world No. 1 best finisher in cricket.
- MS Dhoni has completed a chase with a six 20 times.
- MS Dhoni has smashed 56 runs in the 50th over of an ODI in 7 innings.
- MS Dhoni has a batting average of 102.71 in a successful chase, the highest for any player.
- He is the only player to reach more than 4,000 runs in ODIs while batting on positions 5 to 11 in a winning cause.
AB de Villiers
Mr. 360, probably the most innovative player in the history of the game. He has done exceptionally well for South Africa and also Royal Challengers Bangalore over the years. He is one of the very few players who has a massive fan following across the globe, and his style of playing the game is the major reason for that. AB has retired from the international circuit, but we wish to see a lot more of him in the IPL. He is undoubtedly one of the best finisher in cricket.
Here are some Ab de Villiers stats on the best finishers in the world.
- He holds the record for fastest century (31 balls) in ODI matches.
- He is also one of the most dangerous players in IPL history.
- He has hit the second most sixes in an ODI innings (16).
Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi’s “Boom Boom” is the best way to describe what he used to do in international cricket! The Pakistani batsman, considered by many to be the World’s Best Finisher, would get going from the first ball! Afridi was at his best in one-day internationals, having hit 10,000 runs in all forms.
Every competition you can think of has seen the Pakistani all-rounder come out on top in one way or another. However, Shahid Afridi’s major flaw was his inability to maintain consistency throughout his career. The batsman may have been number one with more consistency in his form.
Here are some of the stats for one of the world’s best finishers in cricket.
- Shahid Afridi held the record for the fastest century in an ODI for more than 17 years.
- He also held the record for the longest six in the history of the game.
- With 351 sixes in 398 matches in ODIs, he is the sole leader of the six-hitting tally in the world.
- He has won 32 Man of the Match awards (most for Pakistan).
Michael Bevan
Michael Bevan, the left-handed Australian batsman, was a master of chases. He was known for his exceptional ability to anchor the innings and guide his team to victory. He had a knack for finding the gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking, which made him a nightmare for the opposition. With an average of 53.58 in ODIs, Bevan is undoubtedly one of the finest finishers the game has ever seen.
Here are some stats for Michael Bevan to prove him as one of the best finishers in the world.
- Michael Bevan has scored almost 7,000 ODI runs, which is a lot for a batsman batting lower down the order.
- He finished his ODI career with an average of 53.17.
Sir Vivian Richards
One of the first superstars in cricket history, Sir Vivian Richards amassed more than 15,000 international runs during his 18-year career. He averaged 47 and had a strike rate of 90.20 during an era when such numbers were unheard of. A belligerent batter who set fear in the hearts of bowlers thanks to his destructive style of batting, Sir Vivian Richards could do it all. Whether it was getting his teams off to quick starts or finishing the innings in style for his team, there simply wasn’t anything he could not do.
Here are some Sir Vivian Richards stats on the best finishers in the world.
- He has scored the second most runs in a calendar year in Test matches (1710).
- He has scored 12 consecutive fifties in Test and ODI matches combined (the most in the world).
Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler, a remarkably versatile player, possesses the rare ability to excel in multiple roles on the cricket field. Whether entrusted with opening the batting or charged with finishing games, he consistently delivers exceptional performances. Buttler’s impact on the English team has been nothing short of remarkable, highlighted by his invaluable contributions during the 2019 World Cup.
His knack for hitting long balls at will makes him one of the best finishers in the world of cricket.
- Jos Buttler has the third-highest strike rate (117.75) in ODI internationals.
- He has hit 14 sixes in a single ODI match.
Lance Klusener
Lance Klusener was one of the most destructive finishers in cricket history. He had the ability to take on any bowling attack and score runs at a rapid pace. Klusener was a key member of the South African team that reached the semi-final of the 1999 World Cup.
He was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 278 runs and taking 18 wickets. Klusener was also a fine fielder and was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000.
Here are some Lance Klusener stats on the best finishers in the world.
- As a bowler, Lance holds the record for best figures in an innings on debut with eight wickets.
- His highest score in tests is 174.
Michael Hussey
Michael Hussey was born on 27th May 1975. He was a professional former player of Australia and coach of this team. He was widely known by his nickname Mr Cricket. Hussey won many ICC titles- the 2006 ICC Champions trophy, 2007 Cricket World Cup, and 2009 ICC Champions trophy.
Javed Miandad
Javed Miandad, widely regarded as one of the most talented right-handed batsmen, comes from a nation known for its formidable bowling prowess. Miandad was known to play some exquisite shots to anchor an innings. Pakistan won a lot of matches, all thanks to Javed Miandad and his reverse sweep.
In that era, he stood out as Pakistan’s best batsman, consistently putting opposition bowlers under a lot of pressure. He finished a lot of games for Pakistan and played some brilliant innings in their campaign to the 1992 World Cup win.
- He scored a brilliant fifty in the 1992 World Cup final against England.
- He scored a hundred on debut in Test matches.
Abdul Razzaq
In cricket, he’s one of the world’s best all-rounders. For his ability to bat and bowl, Abdul Razzaq is one of cricket’s finest players. One of cricket’s best finishers is this player. Despite this, his long-range shooting is one of his most valuable skills. In the closing over’s, he could take down any attack and score runs.
This right-handed slugger wanted to show off his skills at the end of an inning. He is among the most lethal around when it comes to batters in Pakistani baseball. After just 11 balls, Abdul Razzaq scored 47 runs in a 2005 game against England. His attempt to break the 50-second barrier was thwarted, though.
