Top 10

Top 10 Best Bowling Performances in Cricket History

by
Best Bowling Performance in Cricket History

Best Bowling Performances in Cricket History in 2021

Numerous bowlers achieved unmatched levels of performance. Several of them set records over the years, while others accomplished extraordinary feats.  These 10 Best Bowling performances in cricket history are known for their outstanding performances in crucial matches. Bowling fans have a special place in their hearts for some of the sport’s most memorable moments; as we know, without good bowling, batting is a joyless experience.

Several notable performances with the ball were made, but few stood out, which may explain why some of the lowest totals in history occurred. Others displayed incredible ball skills while playing in unfamiliar support conditions.

 

10 Best Bowling Performances in Cricket History are:

 

  1. Bob Willis – 8/43 vs Australia
  2. Devon Malcolm – 9/57 vs South Africa
  3. Richard Hadlee – 9/52 vs Australia
  4. Anil Kumble – 10/74 vs Pakistan
  5. Hugh Tayfield – 9/113 vs England
  6. Chaminda Vaas – 8/19 vs Zimbabwe
  7. Muttiah Muralitharan – 7/30 vs India
  8. Waqar Younis – 7/36 vs England
  9. Aaqib Javed – 7/37 vs India
  10. Gary Gilmour – 6/14 vs England

 

Cricket is one of the most played sports in the world. Looking back to the ICC cricket history, many players engraved some of the Best Bowling figures and Phenomenal performances from One Day International (ODI), Test Matches, and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches in cricket history.

 

  1. Bob Willis – 8/43 vs. Australia

  • Match: England vs. Australia (Test)
  • Year: 1981
  • Venue: Headingly Stadium, Leeds, England

Willis’ most memorable moment occurred during the third Ashes Series match in 1981 when the British side won their second consecutive Test match. England, trailing 1-0 in the series, set Australia 130 for victory in the final test, with Ian Botham scoring 149 not out.

Willis bowled 15.1 overs to begin the match, one of the best bowling performances in history. He secured an 18-run victory by clean bowling Ray Bright, and England went on to win the series 3-1.

In 1981, the Headingley miracle occurred when England achieved one of the best bowling figures in test history. By and large, the victory was credited to Ian Botham’s batsmanship. Willis’ lethal spell, on the other hand, was what determined the outcome of England’s miracle.

 

  1. Devon Malcolm – 9/57 vs. South Africa

  • Match: England vs. South Africa (Test)
  • Year: 1994
  • Venue: The Oval, London, England

The team is 1-0 up in the three-match series and took the early lead in the first innings. As a result, South Africa knew that a strong batting performance would ensure victory in the first series against England since 1965; the break was caused by their isolation due to apartheid.

Alec Stewart stated after England’s dramatic third-day victory that their fast bowling was likely the fastest he had seen in Test cricket. England thrashed the visiting team with pace and power in the fourth and won by eight wickets before lunch.

Devon’s outstanding performance is one of his team’s best bowling performances. His match-winning 9-57 against South Africa at the Oval in August 1994 cemented his status as the greatest test bowler of all time.

 

  1. Richard Hadlee – 9/52 vs. Australia

  • Match: New Zealand vs. Australia (Test)
  • Year: 1985
  • Venue: Brisbane (Gabba), Australia

Richard Hadlee delivered a magnificent performance in the opening test in Brisbane, destroying Australia’s batting. Hadlee handed the Black Caps an innings win with his top innings (9 for 52) and match (15 for 123) figures in Tests. It is still regarded as the greatest bowling figure in the history of test cricket.

Richard’s magnificent day is regarded as one of the greatest bowling performances in cricket history. Hadlee’s ultimate act of selflessness came after he claimed the first eight wickets of the match by catching Vaughan Brown on his first Test wicket.

It may seem impossible now, but Australia was going through a difficult period in the 1980s. During this time period, they had won only one of twenty tests.

 

  1. Anil Kumble – 10/74 vs. Pakistan

  • Match: India vs. Pakistan (Test)
  • Year: 1998
  • Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi, India

India set Pakistan a target of 420 runs during the game. Pakistan got off to a solid start thanks to Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar’s 101 runs. India won by 212 runs at Delhi’s Ferozeshah Kotla stadium, courtesy of one of cricket’s greatest spinners, Kumble’s epochal 10/74 in 26.3 overs against archrivals Pakistan.

Before Anil Kumble, only Jim Laker had taken all ten wickets in an innings in Test cricket. Anil Kumble’s bowling figures of 10 for 74 were the second-best by a right-arm spinner in Test matches.

When VVS Laxman, one of the greatest batsmen of all time, caught Wasim Akram at short leg, the team and crowd erupted in celebration as Kumble collected his 10-wicket haul. India leveled the series in a spinner’s historical series.

 

  1. Hugh Tayfield – 9/113 vs. England

  • Match: South Africa vs. England (Test)
  • Year: 1957
  • Venue: The Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

England required 232 points to win the fourth Test and the series. They quickly built a lead of 147 to two and began scoring freely. Tayfield also broke his own record in the previous test, taking nine wickets in an inning. With 8 for 69, he broke his own record set in the previous Test against Tayfield.

Tayfield’s remarkable bowling figure, as one of the tallest bowlers of all time, is regarded as one of the greatest bowling performances of all time. He bowled 35 eight-ball overs of remarkably accurate off-spin, chipping away at England’s lineup of Peter May, Colin Cowdrey, and Denis Compton.

South Africa won the series by 17 runs after falling behind 2-0. Tayfield has withdrawn from the pitch following the South Africans’ victory.

 

  1. Chaminda Vaas – 8/19 vs. Zimbabwe

 

  • Match: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe (ODI)
  • Year: 2001
  • Venue: Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Chaminda Vaas set a world record with eight wickets. And he has since established himself as one of the greatest fast bowlers to grace the cricket field. Sri Lanka dismissed Zimbabwe in the opening match of the tri-series in Colombo on Saturday with a low score of 35, the lowest ever in a one-day international.

Zimbabwe was bowled out for 38 in only 15.4 overs, as Vaas became the first bowler in one-day international history to claim eight wickets. Pakistan’s previous low in one-day internationals was 43 against the West Indies in Cape Town in 1993. Vaas completed his hat-trick in his sixth over, which featured some masterful swing bowling.

Vaas’s remarkable attack is regarded as one of the greatest bowling performances in ODI history. Along with the superb catch of Stuart Carlisle at third man, Vaas also removed Craig Wishart and Tatenda Tibu’s leg before the wicket. Vaas bowled the opening ball of Zimbabwe’s innings, and Dion Ebrahim was caught leg before wicket as it came in.

 

  1. Muttiah Muralitharan – 7/30 vs. India

  • Match: Sri Lanka vs. India (ODI)
  • Year: 2000
  • Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan spinner and one of the greatest cricketers of all time, contributed a record seven-wicket haul against India, including a maiden. Muttiah Muralitharan’s 7 for 30 in the fifth match of a triangular tournament sponsored by Coca-Cola was one of the best bowling performances in One-Day international cricket history.

On 27 October 2000, at the Sharjah Cricket Ground, an impressive spell by Muralitharan resulted in India’s defeat. Sri Lanka scored 294 runs in their first inning, a formidable total. Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene led the Sri Lankans for centuries.

Muralitharan’s enchantment was responsible for the Indian batsmen’s demise. With India bowled out for 226 runs, the off-spinner claimed seven wickets for 30 runs.

 

  1. Waqar Younis – 7/36 vs. England

  • Match: Pakistan vs. England (ODI)
  • Year: 2001
  • Venue: Headingly Stadium, Leeds, England

Waqar Younis, one of the most successful bowlers in ODI history, had his best bowling figures against England at Leeds. England was defeated by Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis’s spectacular swing and seam.

The host could only muster a score of 156. Pakistan cruised to a six-wicket victory. Waqar Younis was named “Man of the Match” for his seven wickets in ten overs. Waqar reached a top speed of 130 mph during the speed gun test (kph).

Waqar, one of cricket’s fastest bowlers, had a lovely rhythm that day, and his movement off the pitch was subtle. His left hand appeared to be extremely fluid as he directed his action. Yonus’ game is regarded as one of the greatest bowling performances of all time.

 

  1. Aaqib Javed – 7/37 vs. India

  • Match: Pakistan vs. India (ODI)
  • Year: 1991
  • Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

Aaqib Javed established himself as a viable pace bowler during Pakistan’s golden era of pace bowling, which included Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis. The fast bowler reached his peak in 1991 when he faced India in the triangular final of The Wills Trophy in Sharjah.

When he bowled a hostile spell of fast bowling during that ODI, the then-19-year-old set a world record for the best bowling figures ever recorded in an ODI. Aaqib bowled his team to a resounding 72-run victory over an Indian side captained by Azharuddin.

Aaqib pinned a then-young Sachin Tendulkar with the first ball of his innings in this match to earn a well-deserved hat-trick. It came after a boisterous celebration in which his teammates pursued Aaqib. Muttiah Muralitharan came close to breaking the 46-year-record old’s in the final match nearly nine years ago, taking 7/37.

 

  1. Gary Gilmour – 6/14 vs. England

  • Match: Australia vs. England (ODI)
  • Year: 1975
  • Venue: Headingly Stadium, Leeds, England

Gilmour broke all three records simultaneously in the 1975 World Cup semi-final at Headingley, where he went six for fourteen. It is one of the most impressive bowling performances in ODI history. Aaqib Javed finished 7 for 37 at Sharjah, Shaun Pollock finished 5 for 36 at Edgbaston, and Courtney Walsh finished 5 for 1 at Sharjah.

After batting first, the English team was dismissed for 93 runs. Garry Gilmour, an Australian pacer, was the match’s star, taking six wickets in 12 overs and conceding only 14 runs to England’s batting lineup. Australia won this match by four wickets with 28.4 overs remaining. Gilmour was named player of the game for his incredible ball skills.

 

Read More

Top 10 Biggest Sixes in Cricket History

by
Biggest Sixes in Cricket History

10 Biggest Sixes in Cricket of All Time

Hitting sixes are the most exciting moments on the cricket field. Once the ball starts flying, the viewers don’t care if it’s a modest sixer or a massive sixer. When the ball flies really far and high, though, it is always a better deal. Seconds seem like an eternity to spectators watching the game as they wonder how high and long the ball will fly if it will fall in a fielder’s palms or soar straight into the gallery. Because of the anticipation that builds up in those fractions of a second, cricket fans will grow addicted to it.

Let’s take a look at the Top 10 Biggest & Longest Sixes in Cricket History:

  1. Ijaz Ahmed – Pakistan

  • Six Length: 115m
  • Vs Team: India
  • Year: 1999
  • Venue: Mohali
  • Bowler: Prasad

He may have been a quiet cricketer, but he managed to draw attention to himself and his batting style with an astonishing 115-meter sixer. It was a 1999 match in Mohali between Pakistan and India. Surprisingly, the entire encounter included only two sixes, both of which were scored by Ijaz Ahmed. This sixer has remained in the public consciousness to this day. Ijaz hit a similar length six against England.

 

  1. Chris Gayle – West Indies

  • Six Length: 116m
  • Vs Team: India
  • Format: T20
  • Venue: India
  • Bowler: Yousaf Pathan

Since the ‘Universe Boss’ first stepped onto a T20 era, bowler Yousaf Pathan Sixes, T20 cricket, and Chris Gayle have been associated. While Gayle is most renowned for his destructiveness in franchise cricket, he has also performed admirably for the West Indies in T20 Internationals. During his team’s World T20 encounter against India, Gayle chose to take the ball for a toss and hit Yusuf Pathan’s delivery for a distance of 116 meters.

 

  1. Shahid Afridi – Pakistan

  • Six Length: 117m
  • Vs Team: Australia
  • Year: 2005
  • Venue: Perth
  • Format: ODI

It’s no a surprise that Boom Boom Afridi features twice on this list. After all, the Pakistani cricketer was known for his brutal batting, having amassed one of the fastest One-Day International hundreds in history with a 37-ball century. In January 2005, Afridi was on the crease in Perth, representing Pakistan against Australia, when he guided a delivery into a 117-meter sixer, eliciting a cry of happiness and excitement from the crowd.

 

  1. MS Dhoni – India

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by M S Dhoni (@mahi7781)

  • Six Length: 118m
  • Vs Team: New Zealand
  • Year: 2009
  • Format: ODI
  • Bowler: Grant Eliot

MS Dhoni has long been recognized for his amazing shots, particularly helicopter shots, as India’s trusty batsman and one of the country’s most successful captains. Dhoni has smashed some of the most visually stunning sixes in modern cricket history as one of the most effective wicket-keeper batsmen. He smashed a massive 118-meter six during India’s tour of New Zealand in March 2009. He hit a spectacular shot that stunned everyone, and then he didn’t even turn around to look at the ball! That’s what self-belief is all about.

 

  1. Mark Waugh – Australia

  • Six Length: 120m
  • Vs Team: New Zealand
  • Format: Test
  • Venue: Perth
  • Bowler: Daniel Vettori

Australia’s great and tremendously skilled batsman Mark Waugh was known for his elegant batting style. He was also named to the list of cricketers who have struck the game’s greatest sixers.

While batting his team in a Test match against their neighbors, the cricket team of New Zealand, Mark Waugh knocks a Daniel Vettori delivery for a 120-meter six, resulting in not only fetching runs for Australia but also destroying multiple records.

 

  1. Corey Anderson – New Zealand

  • Six Length: 122m
  • Vs Team: India
  • Format: ODI
  • Year: 2014
  • Bowler: Muhammad Shami

Corey Anderson made news recently after retiring from the New Zealand team and going on to play international cricket for the United States of America. On the other hand, he smashed a tremendous six when batting against India in a One Day International match on January 19, 2014. By the time this match was played, Corey Anderson had earned a reputation for hitting massive sixes, so no one was surprised when he smashed Mohammed Shami’s delivery for a length of 122 meters.

 

  1. Yuvraj Singh – India

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Yuvraj Singh (@yuvisofficial)

  • Six Length: 125m
  • Vs Team: Australia
  • Format: T20
  • Venue: Australia
  • Bowler: Bret Lee

Yuvraj Singh, one of India’s most illustrious batters, is noted for his amazing field displays and brilliant hits. When he smashed a 125-meter sixer during a Twenty-20 World Cup match in Australia in September 2007, he joined the list of cricketers who have scored the top ten greatest sixes. Yuvi collected the most memorable six of his career after Brett Lee provided the ball.

 

  1. Martin Guptill – New Zealand

  • Six Length: 127m
  • Vs Team: South Africa
  • Format: T20
  • Venue: Wellington
  • Bowler: Lonwabo Tsotsobe

With nearly 250 sixes for New Zealand in limited-overs cricket, the Kiwi opener is one of the most lethal batters in the world right now. At Westpac Stadium in Wellington, Martin Guptill noted for his outstanding six-hitting skills, blasted one of the longest sixes in T20 cricket. He smacked a 127-meter six off a Lonwabo Tsotsobe delivery over the midwicket boundary.

 

  1. Brett Lee – Australia

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brett Lee (@brettlee_58)

  • Six Length: 135m
  • Vs Team: West Indies
  • Format: T20
  • Year: 2007
  • Bowler: Rovman Powell

 

Brett Lee, Australia’s immensely gifted bowler and the second-fastest bowler in cricket history, blasted one of the top ten biggest sixes in cricket history in a T-20 encounter against the West Indies. Rovman Powell’s delivery found its way into the palms of the Australian heartthrob. He first showed off his batting abilities during the 2005 Ashes series. Lee smashed the ball this time with a shattering sound that echoed throughout the noisy crowd, sending the ball to the Gabba’s rooftop!

 

  1. Shahid Afridi – Pakistan

  • Six Length: 158m
  • Vs Team: South Africa
  • Format: T20
  • Venue: South Africa
  • Year: 2013

Shahid Afridi’s 158-meter shot in 2013 is known as the biggest six ever in cricket history. Pakistan and South Africa squared off in a contest. The delivery was received by Afridi, then known as Boom Boom Afridi, and the King of Sixes, who instantly sent it onto the next golf course. And it ended up being the greatest six ever in cricket! It was an incredible six! The entire crowd erupted in applause as this historic shot was celebrated.

 

Read More

10 Best Women Cricketers in the World in 2021

by
Best Women Cricketers in the World

Best Women Cricketers in the World

Female Cricket World is home to some great players. This complicates the task of selecting the best of the bunch. Whereas cricket is primarily a male sport, there have been some great female players throughout history who are renowned for their batting and bowling abilities. Not only are these 10 Best Women Cricketers of 2021 stunning off the field, but they are also among the hardest female cricketers in history.

 

10 Best Women Cricketers in the World | 2021 

 

  1. Sana Mir – Pakistan

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sana Mir (@mir.sana05)

Sana Mir is a Pakistani cricketer who serves as the team’s captain. She is one of the top ten finest female cricketers of all time and is now placed 16th in the ICC Women’s Player Rankings. Sana was appointed squad captain in 2009. She is recognized as one of Pakistan’s top bowlers.

 

  1. Siriwardene Shashikala – Sri Lanka

Shashikala Siriwardene is the captain of Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket team and one of the top ten female cricketers in the world. Her international debut came against the West Indies in 2003. She is well-known for her bowling assassinations. Her highest performance is 4-11, which she achieved against Pakistan in 2005. She also had another four-wicket haul of 4-34, which came against Pakistan in the 2006 Asia Cup.

 

  1. Meghann Lanning – Australia

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Meg Lanning (@meglanning7)

Meghann Moira Lanning is an Australian women cricketer who plays as the team’s opening batsman. At the age of 18 years and 288 days, she holds the distinction of being Australia’s youngest century runner. Ricky Ponting previously held this record, scoring his first century at the age of 21 years and 21 days. She is widely regarded as the best player on the Australian women’s cricket squad at the moment.

 

  1. Mithali Raj – India

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mithali Raj (@mithaliraj)

Mithali Raj is an Indian women cricketer who made her One-Day International debut in 1999 and made history with a remarkable 114 not out. In 2002, during her third test, she scored 214 runs, smashing Karen Rolton’s previous record of 209 runs in a Test innings in women’s cricket.

Kiran Baluch of Pakistan later claimed it with 242-run innings. She is truly one of the top ten outstanding female cricketers.

 

  1. Stafanie Roxann Taylor – West Indies

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Stafanie Taylor (@stafanie07)

Stafanie Roxann Taylor is a West Indies women’s cricketer. She swings with her right hand and bowls off-spin. Taylor has represented her squad more than 80 times since her debut in 2008. Additionally, she holds the distinction of being the first West Indian female cricketer to win the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year title in 2011.

 

  1. Lisa Caprini Sthalekar – Australia

Lisa Carprini Sthalekar is an Indian-origin Australian cricketer. Football pundits view her as one of the sport’s greatest all-rounders. She is the first female cricketer to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in One Day Internationals. She retired from international cricket following the Australian women’s team’s success in the 2013 ICC World Cup.

 

  1. Katherine Helen Brunt – England

Katherine Helen Brunt is an English woman cricketer who is notable for winning the 2006 and 2010 Women’s Cricketer of the Year awards. Her aggressive bowling style with a traditional movement is well-known throughout the world.

Additionally, she was named Woman of the Match in the 2009 T20 World Cup final at Lords. In a four-over opening spell, she got three wickets for six runs.

 

  1. Jhulan Goswami – India

Jhulan Goswami is a Bengali female cricketer from India. Jhulan, a true all-rounder, captained India at the Women’s World Cup. Additionally, she has established a reputation among the squad for her bowling and batting ability. She has also earned a reputation as the world’s quickest female bowler.

Apart from her status as one of the greatest female bowlers, Jhulan is also one of the top ten female cricketers. In 2007, she was presented with the ICC Women Cricketer of the Year award.

 

  1. Sarah Taylor – England

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sarah Taylor (@sjtaylor30)

Sarah Jane is an English woman cricketer who plays as the team’s wicket-keeper batsman. Her fans recognize her for her signature flow strokes and drives. Additionally, she joined the team for the 2008 ashes.

The next year, she set a remarkable milestone by becoming the youngest female cricketer to amass 1000 runs in her international career. Additionally, she was named the 2013 t20 international female cricketer of the year.

 

  1. Ellyse Perry – Australia

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ellyse Perry (@ellyseperry)

Ellyse Alexandra Perry made her international cricket debut for Australia at the age of sixteen. She is a right-handed generalist. She rapidly gained prominence among the team as a result of her great performance.

Perry is also the youngest member of the Australian cricket squad to have appeared in an international match. Ellyse is currently regarded as a real all-rounder female cricketer by analysts.

 

Read More

10 Most Dangerous Hard Hitters in Cricket History

by
Most Dangerous Hard Hitters in the Cricket History - Power hitting batsmen

Dangerous Power-Hitters in Cricket History

There are some great batsmen in the world of cricket, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Babar Azam, Kane Williamson, and Virat Kohli. They are the personification of technique and concentration; they are some of the batsmen who can destroy a bowling attack with their hard-hitting and tear any bowling attack apart. We can refer to them as the Most Dangerous Hard Hitters Batsmen in Cricket History.

These 10 Dangerous Hard Hitters in Cricket History are bowler’s nightmare since these Batsmen are known for their power-hitting, aggressive, and attacking batting. Previously, the world has seen some of the hardest-hitting batters such as Viv Richards, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, and Ian Botham annihilating the opposition’s bowling attack.

Several explosive hitters in modern cricket are well-known around the game for their explosive hitting, powerful hits, and huge sixes. The following is a list of cricket’s Top Most Dangerous Power Hitters in cricket.

 

10 Most Dangerous Hard Hitters Batmen in Cricket History – 2021

 

  1. Shane Watson

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shane Watson (@srwatson33)

Shane Watson, the legendary batsman, sustained numerous injuries early in his career. However, he returned to cricket with increased intensity. He is the Australian team’s opener. He made numerous appearances for Australia in Winning Innings.

Watson gets his team out to a strong start, enabling the middle-order batting line to amass a large total or chase down huge targets. He becomes quite deadly when he enters a hitting mood.

He possesses the power to demolish any bowling line of any team, wherever in the world. Additionally, he is an extremely effective medium-pace bowler. Considered one of the finest all-rounders in modern cricket and the world’s most damaging batsman.

 

  1. Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag (VIRU) is India’s opening batsman. He has one of the highest strike rates in international cricket. Once he reaches a score of 20-30 runs, any bowler on any surface will find it exceedingly difficult to dismiss him.

His strike rate is also higher than that of many ODI batsmen in test cricket. This demonstrates the batsman’s aggression. Viru holds the world record for the most runs scored in an ODI inning (219).

Virender Sehwag also holds the record for hitting a triple century twice in Test Cricket, making him the only batter in the Indian cricket team to do so. Virender Sehwag is an Indian Premier League player for the Delhi Daredevils. Sehwag was undoubtedly one of the most lethal batsmen in global cricket.

 

  1. Jesse Ryder

Jeremy Daniel Ryder is a New Zealand All-Rounder who has represented his country in a variety of different formats. Jessi bats in the middle order in Tests and as an opener in ODIs and T20 Internationals. Jessi’s Shots are Diverse; he scored the sixth-fastest century in his return match. In the same match, his colleague Corey Anderson beat Shahid Afridi’s 17-year-old record for the fastest ODI century.

With a strike rate of over 94 in one-day internationals, he is a true specialist and the game’s most dangerous hard hitter. Indeed, a heavy hitter.

 

  1. M.S Dhoni

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by M S Dhoni (@mahi7781)

MS Dhoni (MSD) is a former Indian captain in all three formats. The Indian Team is mainly reliant on MSD. He is one of the most lethal late-order batsmen in the game. India won the T20 and ODI world cups under his captaincy. He is such a lethal batsman that he boasts a strike rate of 90. Dhoni possesses the ability to strike and hit the ball exceptionally forcefully.

He has made incredible efforts on numerous occasions to win the Indian team with his aggressive hitting. Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest finishers in cricket history and is now playing for the Chennai Superkings in the IPL T20.

 

  1. Yuvraj Singh

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Yuvraj Singh (@yuvisofficial)

He is a left-handed Indian batsman and one of the most destructive batsmen in the game of cricket. He is the son of former Indian fast bowler and Punjabi film actor Yograj Singh. Stuart Broad Will Never Forget Yuvraj Singh’s Six Consecutive Sixers Against Him in the World Cup T20.

When Yuvraj Singh is in top form, he hits the ball as cleanly and as long as it has ever been struck. In 2012, he faced the greatest obstacle of his life when he was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer that needed a two-and-a-half-month stay in the United States of America.

He returned home in April 2012, quite sure that he would be able to resume his duties on the cricket field relatively fast, and in August he was named to India’s World Twenty20 squad in Sri Lanka. He is India’s Most Destructive Batsman in recent times.

 

  1. Abdul Razzaq

Abdul Razzaq, a Pakistani All-Rounder, is well-known for his moniker Bang Bang Razzaq. He is the type of batsman that can alter the course of a match in a matter of moments with their powerful batting.

Nobody will ever forget his amazing century against South Africa in Sharjah. Abdul Razzaq is a powerful hard hitter for Pakistan and a capable finisher. He is versatile and could of hitting big sixes against any bowler.

Pakistan amassed a massive total in a few final overs thanks to his hard-hitting. With his destructive batting, he converted some unattainable targets into possible ones.

 

  1. Glenn Maxwell

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Glenn Maxwell (@gmaxi_32)

The All-rounder Glenn Maxwell is one of the game’s most deadly hard hitters. He has made numerous T20 appearances for his country. In ODIs, he maintains an incredible strike rate of 129. His strong hitting ability elevated him to a threat in all three formats. He is deserving of the fourth slot on the Top Ten Most Dangerous Hard Hitters list.

 

  1. Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard is a member of the West Indies Cricket squad. This imposing West Indies player possesses considerable strength, and when he connects with the ball, it frequently rockets out of the Cricket pitch. When this West Indies cricketer is in top form, no cricket ground is too large. Kieron Pollard bats in the lower middle order and has a strong death overs game.

He is a specialist 20-overs player with a wealth of experience in batting. Additionally, he bowls at a medium tempo and is really useful with his bowling. Kieron Pollard, along with Sachin Tendulkar, is a member of the Mumbai Indians cricket team in the Indian Premier League.

 

  1. Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is unquestionably the most dangerous batsman the world has ever seen. This imposing Jamaican batsman represents the West Indies Cricket team in all three formats of the game, but his ability to score runs in the shorter version of the game has him at the top of our list.

He possesses such strength that even his bat edges have the ability to fly over the fence for a six. Chris Gayle is unquestionably the stuff of nightmares for a large number of International Bowlers. He holds the record for the most hundreds in T20 cricket with seven. Chris Gayle’s prolonged presence on the crease is a source of consternation for any bowler.

Gayle typically opens the innings and takes a little to settle in, but once he does, he is unstoppable. Chris Gayle also competes in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is a Destructive Batsman in Test, One-Day, and Twenty20 cricket.

 

  1. Shahid Afridi

Afridi Shahid Khan Frequently referred to as BOOM BOOM and LALA Afridi is one of the most dangerous hard hitters and power-hitting batsmen in the world, according to his Team Mates. He is well-known for his aggressive and hazardous batting approach, which he describes as the only way he knows how to play cricket: hitting every delivery he meets.

Afridi Debuted as a Leg Spin Bowler who can bat, but following his historic and record-breaking innings of 102 off just 37 balls, he was promoted to Pakistan’s ODI opening position, although now he bats in the middle order for the side.

He hasn’t been in top form recently, but he has the potential to regain it at any time. Shahid Afridi also holds the record for the second quickest fifty in One-Day Internationals, among other records. He is the Most Destructive Batsman in the ODI Cricket of All Time.

Final Remarks

Kindly inform us of this ranking in the comment section below. We appreciate your interest in the Most Dangerous Hard Hitters and Power Hitting Batsmen in Cricket.

 

Read More

20 Cricketers Who Became Commentators

by
Cricketers Who Became Commentators

Cricketers Who Became Commentators

Many famous cricketers moved to the media field after their retirement and chose commentary or sports journalism as their second career, and many Cricketers became commentators in recent days. There are many commentators in the cricket field also like Harsha Bhogle, who never played the game of cricket actively but still proved themselves as one of the most successful commentators.

Many recently retired cricketers like Adam Gilchrist, Waqar Younis, and Sourav Ganguly are also working as guest commentators and match summarizers for various channels as the field of commentary has proved itself as one of the best choices after the retirement of an international cricketer. And here is the list of cricketers who became commentators.

Who is a Commentator?

A sports commentator is the person who provides a running commentary of a game or event in real-time by live broadcast with media houses. They are the backbone of any sports event as they maintain the thrill in the minds of sports fans, with their voiceover, generally in the historical present tense.

We selected the cricketers who successfully turned their careers into the field of sports commentary or as successful media people. We chose the players who had worked with multiple media houses as a commentator which further boosts their versatility over the field of cricket commentary.

We only selected the cricketers who have multiple channels in their resumes throughout their commentator careers. There are few numbers of popular cricketers who are known as the most successful commentators but didn’t have enough media house profiles to be inducted into the list of cricketers who became commentators.

 

Cricketers Who Became Commentators – Updated 2021

 

  1. Geoffrey Boycott

Retired English Cricketer Geoffrey Boycott established himself as one of the most successful opening batsmen of England. He made 8114 runs in 108 international test matches with a batting average of 47.72 and made 1082 runs in 36 ODI matches with a batting average of 36.06.

He also played for Yorkshire from 1962 till 1986. Besides his active playing career, he worked as a commentator for Sky Sports from 1990 to 1998 and BBC Television for England from 1993 to 1998. Boycott also started working with ESPN Star Sports in India from 1997 to 2005.

He also worked with English Channel TalkSPORT from 1998 to 2003. He worked as a commentator for Channel 4 of England from the 2004-05 season and then moved to Channel Five in 2006 which he is continuing to date. Boycott also appeared as a guest of BBC Test Match Special from 2005.

 

  1. Ian Bishop

Former West Indian cricketer Ian Bishop played for the national side of the West Indies as a powerful fast bowler from 1989 to 1998. He took 161 wickets in 43 international test matches with a bowling average of 24.27 and took 118 wickets in 84 ODI matches with a bowling average of 26.50.

Besides his international appearance, he also played for Trinidad and Tobago from 1986 till 2000. Besides his cricket career, Bishop appeared as a commentator on Channel 4 aired in England from 2000 to 2004, and then moved to Sky Sports in 2005 which he has been continuing till now.

He worked as a commentator for Channel 5 of England from 2007 to 2009. Besides the channels of England, Bishop also appeared as the commentator of South African SABC Television from 2005 to 2008.

 

  1. Rahul Dravid

One of the budding Indian great cricketers turned commentators, Rahul so far is one of the commentators who can grab the attention of the viewers away from the game. His sense of humor is extreme. He looks at the game from a different angle and tells something different, which others are not watching, for which a listener awaits keenly. He is not afraid of sledding any co-commentator as he did to Sourav Ganguly and Nasser Hussain during the cricket World Cup 2015 which was entertaining to every viewer back home.

 

  1. Sourav Ganguly

The former India captain is one of the few good commentators in India right now. Before him, only one commentator who earned appreciation for informative and insightful commentary was Harsha Bhogle. But, Harsha is not a cricketer, he is a fan of this game and has become an expert. Ganguly gave the Indian audience a chance to listen to get rid of those rotten meaningless high-pitched voices like Ravi Shastri and Arun Lal.

 

  1. Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain, the former England captain is one of the best cricketers who became commentators of all time in cricket history. He has featured in the list as he becomes one of the cricketers who adopted the new profession just after retirement from cricket in 2003. He is the best in England, and we can listen to his in-depth discussion about the game during the ongoing Ashes.

But, prejudice is something that destroys a reputation that happens to Hussain in 2011 when he calls visiting Indian player Parthiv Patel. His dig on BCCI for not accepting the decision review system was one of his negative points. Besides these, he can keep viewers glued with the TV set behind the mic.

 

  1. Michael Holding

The legendry fast bowler could glue the listeners with his dense voice. But, he too sits behind the mic with prejudice. He never appreciated allrounder Darren Sammy for his good performances; and is critical to the shortest form of the game T20, as a result, he never regards Kieron Pollard as a cricketer.

 

  1. Mark Taylor

He is one of the saint commentators who took inspiration from the game itself to describe. He is one of the cricket greats who became famous Australian commentators. Right now, besides Ian Chappell, there are no good commentators. Right now, the Channel Nine commentary team is featured by Michael Slater and Ian Healy. But none of them are as good as Mark. Mark is the only man who carried the legacy of famous Australian commentators. He never afraid of talking about the most controversial issues.

 

  1. Jonathan Agnew

Former professional English cricketer Jonathan Agnew made three appearances in Test matches for England’s national team and took four wickets and made three more appearances in ODI matches and took three wickets.

Besides his national side, he played for Leicestershire from 1979 till 1992 in first-class cricket and took 666 wickets in 218 matches with a bowling average of 29.25. Besides his career as a regular cricket player, he worked as a cricket journalist and summarizer in The People from 1990 to 1991.

Agnew appeared as a guest commentator of Test Match Special aired on BBC from 1991 to date. He also worked as a commentator for BBC Television in two spells in 1999 and then again from 2006 to 2009.

 

  1. Mike Atherton

Retired England international cricketer Mike Atherton was a right-handed opening batsman for the English national side. He made 7,728 runs in 115 international test matches with a batting average of 37.69. Mike also made 1,791 runs in 54 ODI matches with a batting average of 35.11.

Besides international appearances, he played for Lancashire from 1987 till 2001. He also made a brief debut for MCC from 1987 to 1990. Besides his cricket career, he worked as a cricket journalist and summarizer in Sunday Telegraph circulated in England from 2002 to date.

Atherton appeared as a commentator for Channel 4 of England from 2002 to 2005. He then also worked for TalkSPORT from 2004 to 2005. He is working with Sky Sports aired in England since 2005.

 

  1. Bill Lawry

Lawry no more does the commentary during summer in Australia. The difference is tangible. The legendary Australian batsman was the man who could bring life to a dead Test match. The man from Victoria province of Australia seating with the mic can give a fan far more to imagine about the game. His partnership with the late Tony Greig was a delight for every cricket fan. They laughed, argued, and untainted us for 33 years before Tony died in December of 2012.

 

  1. Navjot Singh Sidhu

Former Indian cricketer and current Member of Parliament from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu played for the Indian national cricket team from 1983 to 1999. He made 3,202 runs in 51 international test matches with a batting average of 42.13. Sidhu also made 4,413 runs in 136 ODI matches with a batting average of 37.08.

He played for Punjab in first-class cricket from 1981 till 2000. Besides his active cricket career, he started working as a cricket commentator with ESPN Star sports aired in India in 1999 and continued with them till 2003.

He moved to TEN Sports aired in the United Arab Emirates in 2003. Sidhu appeared as the commentator of Indian channel NDTV 24×7 from 2006 till 2009. He moved to the Indian channel Times Now in 2010 and still working with them.

 

  1. Dominic Cork

Former English cricketer Dominic Cork played for the English national side from 1995 to 2002. He was a right-hand batsman and medium-pace bowler. He took 131 wickets in 37 international test matches with a bowling average of 29.81. Cork also took 41 wickets in 32 ODI matches with a bowling average of 27.43.

Besides his international appearances, he played for Staffordshire in the 1989-90 season and played for Derbyshire from 1990 till 2003. Dominic Cork started his commentator career with Pakistan Television Corporation in 2009 which he is continuing to date.

 

  1. Simon Hughes

Simon Hughes, a former English cricketer, and journalist were dubbed The Analyst. From 1980 until 1991, he bowled fast-medium for Middlesex. Hughes later played for Northern Transvaal (1992–1993) and Durham (1992–1993). He got 466 wickets at a bowling average of 32.48 in 205 first-class matches and also scored 1,775 runs.

Apart from his active cricket career, he worked as a full-time sports journalist for a variety of news organizations. He worked as a cricket journalist before becoming a full-time pundit. He was a columnist for two well-known English newspapers, The Independent and the Daily Telegraph.

Hughes was a pundit for Channel 4 in the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2005, before moving to Channel 5 in 2006. He also served as a commentator for Test Match Special, which was shown on England’s edition of the BBC from 2007 to the present.

 

  1. Ian Chappell

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cricbuzz (@cricbuzzofficial)

Former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell was a successful top-order batsman for the Australian national side from 1964 to 1980. On 9 July 2009, he was inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Cricket Hall of Fame. He scored 5,345 runs in 75 international test matches, batting at a 42.42 average.

Chappell also scored 673 runs in 16 One-Day International matches, hitting at a 48.07 average. Ian also played for the South Australian regional team from 1962 to 1980 and Lancashire in 1963. Apart from his active cricket career, Ian Chappell began commentating on cricket in 1980.

He began his career with Australia’s Nine Network. He then began working with ESPN Star Sports, which has been broadcast in India since 2007. Along with his usual commentary duties, he served as a commentator for Channel 5 during the 2009 season.

 

  1. E.W Swanton

E.W Swanton

E.W. Swanton, a former British cricketer, journalist, and author, appeared in three matches for Middlesex during the 1937–38 season, scoring seven runs in first-class cricket. He was more successful as a cricket journalist and commentator, and his unusual “fruity” voice made him immediately identifiable.

Swanton authored numerous cricket novels, including ‘Elusive Victory,’ ‘Cricket and the Clock,’ ‘Best Cricket Stories,’ and ‘Follow On.’ He began his career with the BBC, which is broadcast in English-speaking nations. Swanton featured on Test Match Special as a pundit from 1938 through 1975.

From 1948 through 1967, he also covered a variety of international matches for BBC Television. Swanton, in addition to his career as a commentator, wrote frequent essays for The Daily Telegraph, which was published in England from 1946 to 1975.

 

  1. Mark Nicholas

Mark Nicholas was a former English First Class cricketer who played for Hampshire from 1978 to 1995. He established a reputation as an outstanding right-handed batter and medium-pace bowler. He scored 18,262 runs in 377 First Class test matches, batting at a 34.39 average and taking 72 wickets.

Mark also scored 7,334 runs in 359 First Class One Day matches, hitting at a 27.78 average. He also penned cricket columns in addition to his active cricket career. He also worked as a cricket journalist for the English newspaper Daily Telegraph.

From 1996 to 1998, he worked as a commentator for Sky Sports. Mark then moved to Channel 4, which is broadcast in the United Kingdom, in 1999 and remained there until 2005. Nicholas has also served as a guest commentator on Australia’s Nine Network and Channel 5 in the United Kingdom since 2001 and 2006.

 

  1. David Lloyd

The cricket world’s most recognizable voice. He is a top performer at Sky Sports. Lloyd covers all England matches and is a regular contributor to SKY’s coverage of ICC competitions. Lloyd’s use of slang distinguishes him from other commentators; his usage of the term “wallop” during the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka particularly amusing. He is also an expert at adapting to new situations. His famous catchphrase “start the automobile” was easily modified to “start the tuk-tuk” towards the end of the 2011 World Cup.

 

  1. Ricky Ponting

The youngest bloke on the list; and currently performing admirably, just like he did for Australia. He is currently in England. The most admirable aspect of Ponting is his fair assessment of the game. He is not prejudiced; he approaches the game from the commentary box with an open mind, just as the previous captain did. Right now, his careless attitude has elevated him to the king.

 

  1. Harsha Bhogle

Harsha Bhogle is one of India’s all-time great cricket pundits. He is frequently referred to as the “Voice of Indian Cricket” and has worked in commentary and analysis for more than three decades. Harsha is an expert at pointing out minute things that many others may overlook.

He is a frequent contributor to Cricbuzz, providing analysis, match reports, and interviews. His career, however, began in his hometown of Hyderabad, where he was born and raised. Harsha Bhogle began his career with All India Radio at the tender age of 19, where he excelled after being invited to commentate in a bilateral series ahead of the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia.

 

  1. Wasim Akram

Who can forget Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler, who is also one of the game’s greatest players, who became a commentator? He represented Pakistan in 536 One Day Internationals and 104 Test matches before retiring in 2003.

 

Exceptional Mentions

Numerous other cricketers from a variety of countries have established a reputation as a respected commentator, including Sri Lankans Russel Arnold and Aravinda De Silva, Pakistani batsmen Ramiz Raja, former English cricketer Freddie Brown, Indian cricketer Farokh Engineer, and legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar.

There are yet additional cricketers who will enter the field of commentary, as it has established itself as one of the best venues for retired cricketers.

 

Conclusion

Famous cricketers such as former England Test captain Tony Greig, the Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram, and renowned Indian all-rounder Ravi Shastri have also established themselves as some of the game’s top commentators. These players are frequently referred to as the fathers of cricket commentary, as the majority of the cricket world comes to a halt when they take the microphone in the media boxes.

They were purposely omitted from this list. We pay them due respect because we grew up listening to them during cricket matches throughout our childhood. Please remember to share and subscribe. Additionally, write a comment below and let us know who your favorite analyst is.

 

Read More