Most Underrated Cricket Batsmen of All Time

They deserve more credit than they get.

Most Underrated Cricket Batsmen of All Time

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul in 2011.

No one remembers who finishes second in any sport. Some cricket players have not gotten the accolades they deserve because some players were a bit better and took the spotlight.

Stats don’t always tell the whole story. Number of runs, average and strike-rate could be misleading since some stats may not reflect the quality of the pitch, opposition, and strong or weak teammates. The best batsmen of one era might appear average when compared to players in a different era.

Some players are overshadowed by more decorated teammates. Others are overshadowed by the best in their generation. A few are never mentioned in the greatest batsmen debate. But that doesn’t diminish what they accomplished or how valuable they were to their teams.

These are the most underrated cricket batsmen of all time.

Honorable Mention: Damien Martyn

Born: Oct. 21, 1971

Country: Australia

Experience: 1992-2006

Damien Martyn Stats

Other major teams: Western Australia, Yorkshire

Career stats in Tests: 67 matches, 4406 runs, 46.37 average, 165 highest score, 13 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 208 matches, 5346 runs, 40.80 average, 77.73 strike rate, 144* highest score, 5 100s

Bottom Line: Damien Martyn

Damien Martyn was all about class. He made batting look easy. However, many of his efforts went unnoticed as he played on the strongest team of his era, Australia.

Martyn played second fiddle to Ricky Ponting in the 2003 World Cup final, which Australia won by scoring an unbeaten 84-ball 88. In 2004, Martyn was the second-highest run-getter in Tests, by scoring 1,353 runs at an excellent average of 56.38.

He excelled equally in both home and away conditions. He had no problem in playing tough away countries such as India, South Africa and England.

25. Suresh Raina

Born: Nov. 27, 1986

Country: India

Experience: 2005-present

Suresh Raina Stats

Other major teams: Chennai Super Kings, Uttar Pradesh

Career stats in Tests: 18 matches, 768 runs, 26.48 average, 120 highest score, 1 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 226 matches, 5,615 runs, 35.31 average, 93.50 strike rate, 116* highest score, 5 100s

Bottom Line: Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina is one of India’s best middle-order batsmen in ODIs ever, along with Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Raina batted at No. 5 and 6 for most of his career but also showed his credentials as a top-order batsman when given the opportunity.

Raina made a name for himself at the international level by scoring 81*(89) against England at Faridabad when he was 19 years old. The southpaw came to bat when India was struggling at 91-4 and it lost yet another wicket soon after and was rattling at 92-5. Raina kept his cool and guided India to a 4-wicket win.

In the 2011 ODI World Cup, Raina made a couple of crucial 30s in the quarterfinal and semifinal. He scored 34*(28) against Australia in the quarterfinal and made 36*(39) against Pakistan in the semis.

24. Mushfiqur Rahim

Born: June 9, 1987

Country: Bangladesh

Experience: 2005-present

Mushfiqur Rahim Stats

Other major teams: Rajshahi Kings, Karachi Kings

Career stats in Tests: 70 matches, 4,413 runs, 36.77 average, 219* highest score, 7 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 218 matches, 6,174 runs, 36.31 average, 79.21 strike rate, 144 highest score, 7 100s

Bottom Line: Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim has been the backbone of Bangladesh since 2005. He has delivered many crucial knocks in Bangladesh's wins and is one of the reasons why the Tigers have excelled in cricket.

Rahim is the highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in Tests and the second-highest run-getter for the team across formats despite batting in the middle-order.

The wicket-keeper batsman is 33 and still going strong. He scored an unbeaten 203 against Zimbabwe recently and guided his team to an innings win.

23. Marcus Trescothick

Born: Dec. 25, 1975

Country: England

Experience: 2000-06

Marcus Trescothick Stats

Other major teams: Somerset

Career stats in Tests: 76 matches, 5,825 runs, 43.79 average, 54.51 strike rate, 219 highest score, 14 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 123 matches, 4,335 runs, 37.37 average, 85.21 strike rate, 137 highest score, 12 100s

Bottom Line: Marcus Trescothick

Marcus Trescothick was an attacking left-handed batsman who gave England flying starts. During his playing days, England’s ODI team was known for its defensive mindset. However, Treskothik was an exception and batted aggressively.

In the 2005 Ashes that England won, the Somerset batsman was the second-highest run-scorer with 431 runs at an average of 43.10.

His international career was cut short due to stress-related illness. Had he come back by fighting the illness, he would have ended up as one of England’s greatest batsmen of all time.

22. Eoin Morgan

Born: Sept. 10, 1986

Country: England/Ireland

Experience: 2006-present

Eoin Morgan Stats

Other major teams: Middlesex, Sydney Thunders

Career stats in Tests: 16 matches, 700 runs, 30.43 average, 54.77 strike rate, 130 highest score, 2 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 236 matches, 7,368 runs, 39.40 average, 91.13 strike rate, 148 highest score, 13 100s

Bottom Line: Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan is the captain of the current England team that won the ODI World Cup in 2019. He changed the complexion of the England team by instilling an attacking mindset to the team that was known for playing defensive.

Morgan as a captain overshadowed Morgan as a batsman. He is an attacking batsman and can clear the ropes at will. He holds the record of most sixes in an ODI innings, with 17 against Afghanistan en route to his 148 off just 71 balls.

He started his career for Ireland and played 23 ODIs for them, scoring 744 runs at an average of 35.42. Since Ireland was not a strong team, Morgan moved to England, and the rest is history as he has become the highest run-getter for England in ODIs.

21. Gautam Gambhir

Born: Oct. 14, 1981

Country: India

Experience: 2003-18

Gautam Gambhir Stats

Other major teams: Delhi, Kolkata Knight Riders

Career stats in Tests: 58 matches, 4,154 runs, 41.95 average, 51.49 strike rate, 206 highest score, 9 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 147 matches, 5,238 runs, 39.68 average, 85.25 strike rate, 150* highest score, 11 100s

Bottom Line: Gautam Gambhir

India won its second ODI World Cup in 2011, and the hero of the match was Gautam Gambhir. Chasing 275, India lost Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early. Gambhir held one end and stitched important partnerships with Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He scored a well-crafted 97 (122), and when he departed, India was in command.

Gambhir also was the highest individual scorer in India’s victorious 2007 T20 World Cup final. He scored 75 (54) and guided India to a fighting 157-5 in 20 overs.

He excelled in Tests, too. He became the No.1-ranked player in 2009 and helped India reach a No.1 ranking in the longest format.

20. Nathan Astle

Born: Sept. 15, 1971

Country: New Zealand

Experience: 1996-2007

Nathan Astle Stats

Other major teams: Canterbury, Durham

Career stats in Tests: 81 matches, 4,702 runs, 37.02 average, 49.60 strike rate, 222 highest score, 11 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 223 matches, 7,090 runs, 34.92 average, 72.64 strike rate, 145* highest score, 16 100s

Bottom Line: Nathan Astle

Nathan Astle is one of New Zealand’s greatest ODI players of all time. He is the third-highest run-getter for New Zealand in ODIs. He played as an opener in most of his career and gave flying starts for the Kiwis. Scoring hundreds was a rarity during his playing days, and he was only the 10th player to score 15 ODI hundreds.

Astle was equally effective in Tests while batting in the middle order. He holds the record of the fastest double century in Tests, by making it in just 153 balls against England.

19. Alvin Kallicharan

Born: March 21, 1949

Country: West Indies

Experience: 1972-81

Alvin Kallicharan Stats

Other major teams: Guyana, Warwickshire

Career stats in Tests: 66 matches, 4,399 runs, 44.43 average, 187 highest score, 12 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 31 matches, 826 runs, 34.41 average, 62.15 strike rate, 78 highest score, 0 100s

Bottom Line: Alvin Kallicharan

Alvin Kallicharan was an elegant left-hander who was part of the West Indies team that won the ODI World Cup in 1975 and 1979. He burst onto the international scene by scoring back-to-back hundreds and was named the Wisden Player of the Year in 1983.

Kallicharran scored 4,399 runs in Tests, including 12 centuries at an average of 44.43. In first-class cricket, he amassed over 32,500 runs with 87 hundreds and 160 fifties.

He was the leading run-scorer for the West Indies in the 1975 World Cup, which it won, scoring 197 runs at an excellent average of 49.25.

18. Justin Langer

Born: Nov. 21, 1970

Country: Australia

Experience: 1993-2007

Justin Langer Stats

Other major teams: Western Australia, Somerset

Career stats in Tests: 105 matches, 7,696 runs, 45.27 average, 54.42 strike rate, 250 highest score, 23 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 8 matches, 160 runs, 32.00 average, 88.88 strike rate, 36 highest score, 0 100s

Bottom Line: Justin Langer

Justin Langer formed arguably the best opening pair of all time with Matthew Hayden in Tests. He was an accumulator and constructed his innings by biding time.

Playing 100 Tests in an era, where Australia dominated shows his caliber as a batsman. He scored 23 hundreds, including three double hundreds.

After making his debut in 1993, Langer only played eight Tests in his first four years. Things took a turn in 1998, and he never looked back.

17. Gary Kirsten

Born: Nov. 23, 1967

Country: South Africa

Experience: 1993-2004

Gary Kirsten Stats

Other major teams: Western Province

Career stats in Tests: 101 matches, 7,289 runs, 45.27 average, 275 highest score, 21 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 185 matches, 6,798 runs, 40.95 average, 72.04 strike rate, 188* highest score, 13 100s

Bottom Line: Gary Kirsten

Gary Kirsten is known for his coaching stint with India and helping India win its second ODI World Cup and rise to the No.1-ranked Team in Tests. But before that, he helped South Africa script memorable wins with his bat.

A hardworking opener at the top, Kirsten had his best moment when he scored 275 and the Proteas were forced to follow-on against England after being bowled out for 156 in the first innings. In the second innings, the left-hander stayed 878 minutes at the crease, the second-longest innings in Tests and saved the match for his team.

His 21 hundreds in Tests was a South African record when he retired. South Africa lost only once when Kirsten scored a hundred and won 11 times. His 188*(159) against England is the highest individual score by a South African in ODIs — a record he set in 1996.

16. Hashim Amla

Born: March 31, 1983

Country: South Africa

Experience: 2004-19

Hashim Amla Stats

Other major teams: Cape Cobras, Essex

Career stats in Tests: 124 matches, 9,282 runs, 46.64 average, 49.97 strike rate, 311 highest score, 28 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 181 matches, 8,113 runs, 49.46 average, 88.39 strike rate, 159 highest score, 27 100s

Bottom Line: Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla is one of the rare players who has excelled in both Tests and ODIs. His numbers are as good as anyone in world cricket.

Amla became the first and only South African player to score a triple century in 2012 against England on its home turf. Once set, it is difficult to dismiss him. He scored 490 runs in a series against India in 2010 at a stellar average of 490 in a two-Test series.

The elegant right-hander was believed to be a Test-match specialist initially. However, Amla proved everyone wrong and became the fastest player to score 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 runs in ODIs.

15. Aravinda de Silva

Born: Oct. 17, 1965

Country: Sri Lanka

Experience: 1984-2003

Aravinda de Silva Stats

Other major teams: Kent, Auckland

Career stats in Tests: 93 matches, 6,361 runs, 42.97 average, 267 highest score, 20 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 308 matches, 9,284 runs, 34.90 average, 81.23 strike rate, 145 highest score, 11 100s

Bottom Line: Aravinda de Silva

Sri Lanka won its first and only ODI World Cup win 1996, thanks to Aravinda de Silva’s Man of the Match efforts in the semifinal and the final. De Silva made 66 off just 47 balls against India in the semis and scored an unbeaten 107 off 124 balls against the Aussies in the final.

The Sri Lanka batsman was an excellent player of short-pitched deliveries, a trait that is rare for Indian subcontinent batsmen. He also played the best spinners of his era, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble with ease.

When Wisden chose top 100 ODI innings of all time in 2002, de Silva’s name was featured six times, the most by any player along with Viv Richards.

14. Graeme Smith

Born: Feb. 1, 1981

Country: South Africa

Experience: 2002-14

Graeme Smith Stats

Other major teams: Cape Cobras, Somerset

Career stats in Tests: 117 matches, 9,265 runs, 48.25 average, 59.67 strike rate, 277 highest score, 27 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 197 matches, 6,989 runs, 37.98 average, 80.81 strike rate, 141 highest score, 10 100s

Bottom Line: Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith started captaining South Africa at the age of 22 and scored 8,659 runs as captain, a world record, 2,036 more than the second-best, Allan Border (6623).

The left-hander was a fourth-innings superstar. He is the second-highest run-getter (1,611 at 51.96) in the fourth innings behind Tendulkar (1,625 at 36.93). Also, Smith holds the record of most runs in fourth-innings wins, 1,141 at an excellent average of 87.76.

Smith had a great record in Tests in England, where most batsmen struggle, scoring 1,355 runs at an average of 67.75.

13. Mark Waugh

Born: June 2, 1965

Country: Australia

Experience: 1988-2002

Mark Waugh Stats

Other major teams: Essex, New South Wales

Career stats in Tests: 128 matches, 8,029 runs, 41.81 average, 52.27 strike rate, 153 highest score, 20 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 244 matches, 8,500 runs, 39.35 average, 76.90 strike rate, 173 highest score, 18 100s

Bottom Line: Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh was not as decorated as his older twin brother, Steve Waugh. However, Mark debuted in Tests in the fourth Test of the 1990-91 series against England in place of his brother. Soon, Steve was back on the team, and the brothers dictated terms against opponents, scoring 3,435 runs at an average of 49.07.

Steve relied on his grit while Mark was an effortless stroke-maker. His cuts, drives and pulls were pleasing to the eyes.

The younger Waugh had an excellent record in World Cups, scoring 1,004 runs at an average of 52.83, with four hundreds. In the 1996 World Cup, he made 484 runs at a stellar average of 80.66, including a match-winning century against New Zealand in the quarterfinal.

12. Desmond Haynes

Country: West Indies

Born: Feb. 15, 1956

Experience: 1978-94

Desmond Haynes Stats

Other major teams: Barbados, Middlesex

Career stats in Tests: 116 matches, 7,487 runs, 42.29 average, 48.34 strike rate, 184 highest score, 18 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 238 matches, 8,648 runs, 41.37 average, 63.09 strike rate, 152 highest score, 17 100s

Bottom Line: Desmond Haynes

Desmond Haynes is one of the unsung heroes of the vintage West Indies team, which dominated world cricket. When he retired, he held the record of most runs, most centuries and most matches in ODIs.

In Tests, he and Gordon Greenidge scored more runs than any other opening pair, 6,482 runs at an average of 47.31, including 16 hundred partnerships. The pair were successful in ODIs, too, scoring 5,150 runs at an average of 52.55 — the third-best in terms of runs scored by an opening pair.

He had a stunning record on home soil in both Tests and ODIs. In ODIs, he has the highest average among players who have scored 2,000-plus runs, 67.71. In Tests, he scored 3,868 runs at an average of 56.05 — the fifth-best average among West Indian players who have scored 2,000-plus runs.

11. Younis Khan

Born: Nov. 29, 1977

Country: Pakistan

Experience: 2000-17

Younis Khan Stats

Other major teams: Nottinghamshire, Surrey

Career stats in Tests: 118 matches, 10,099 runs, 52.05 average, 52.12 strike rate, 313 highest score, 34 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 265 matches, 7,249 runs, 31.24 average, 75.29 strike rate, 144 highest score, 7 100s

Bottom Line: Younis Khan

Younis Khan is the only Pakistan player to score 10,000-plus runs in Tests and holds the record of most hundreds (34) by a Pakistani. In the high-octane clashes against India, Younis came out on top and made 1,321 runs at an average 88.06, the third-best after Everton Weekes (1,495 at 106.78) and Andy Flower (1,138 at 94.83).

The right-hander Khan holds the record of most centuries in fourth innings (five) and made 1,465 runs at an average of 50.52. He is the only player to score hundreds in 11 countries (Australia, Bangladesh, India, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, UAE and West Indies.)

He had a decent ODI career as well. Although he didn’t score at a good pace, he played the role of a sheet anchor to perfection.

10. Rohan Kanhai

Born: Dec. 26, 1935

Country: West Indies

Experience: 1957-74

Rohan Kanhai Stats

Other major teams: Guyana, Trinidad

Career stats in Tests: 79 matches, 6,227 runs, 47.53 average, 256 highest score, 15 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 7 matches, 164 runs, 54.66 average, 60.07 strike rate, 55 highest score, 0 100s

Bottom Line: Rohan Kanhai

Rohan Kanhai was one of the best batsmen of the 1960s. Sunil Gavaskar, the first man to reach 10,000 Test runs, named his son Rohan in a show of respect to Kanhai.

Kanhai was an unorthodox player and had his own array of strokes. His "falling hook" shot, in which he finished his follow-through by lying on his back, was unique and effective.

The West Indian icon played only seven ODIs since ODIs were still in an infant state when he retired. He was part of the Windies team that won the inaugural 1975 ODI World Cup and scored a fifty in the match.

9. Gundappa Viswanath

Born: Feb. 12, 1949

Country: India

Experience: 1969-83

Gundappa Viswanath Stats

Other major teams: Karnataka, Mysore

Career stats in Tests: 91 matches, 6,080 runs, 41.93 average, 222 highest score, 14 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 25 matches, 439 runs, 19.95 average, 52.89 strike rate, 75 highest score, 0 100s

Bottom Line: Gundappa Viswanath

Gundappa Viswanath was one of India’s mainstays with the bat in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a treat to watch and was known for his wrist work, especially his late cut.

"Vishi" scored 14 centuries in Tests, and none of them resulted in a loss. His best knocks came against strong opposition and on difficult pitches. He had a batting average over 50 against West Indies and Australia, who had fearsome pace bowlers.

He scored 112 in the then-world record chase of 403 (currently, second all-time) in the fourth innings against West Indies at Port of Spain in 1976.

8. Jacques Kallis

Born: Oct. 16, 1975

Country: South Africa

Experience: 1995-2014

Jacques Kallis Stats

Other major teams: Cape Cobras, Glamorgan, Kolkata Knight Riders, Middlesex

Career stats in Tests: 166 matches, 13,289 runs, 55.37 average, 45.97 strike rate, 224 highest score, 45 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 328 matches, 11,579 runs, 44.36 average, 72.89 strike rate, 139 highest score, 17 100s

Bottom Line: Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis amassed 10,000-plus runs in both Tests and ODIs and is the third-highest run-getter in Tests and seventh-highest run-getter in ODIs. He is known as the greatest all-rounder of the modern era, picking up 250-plus wickets in both formats.

The South Africa player has scored 45 centuries in Tests, second-most by any batsman behind Sachin Tendulkar. Also, Kallis holds the record for most Man of the Match awards in Tests with 23.

Kallis scored five centuries in five consecutive Tests in the 2003-04 season — second only Bradman, who scored six centuries in consecutive matches — and the right-hander ended his Test career on a high note by scoring 115 in his last match.

7. Ross Taylor

Born: March 8, 1984

Country: New Zealand

Experience: 2006-present

Ross Taylor Stats

Other major teams: Sussex, Victoria

Career stats in Tests: 101 matches, 7,238 runs, 46.10 average, 60.00 strike rate, 290 highest score, 19 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 232 matches, 8,574 runs, 48.44 average, 83.46 strike rate, 181 highest score, 21 100s

Bottom Line: Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor has incredible numbers in both ODIs and Tests. However, his name never is discussed when you talk about the best batsmen in the current era. Yes, he is the unsung hero of the current generation.

He has more hundreds (21) and scored more runs (8,574) in ODIs than any New Zealander in ODIs. In Tests, he is the Kiwis’ highest run-getter of all time and has 19 hundreds, the second-most by a New Zealander.

He has made the No.4 position his own in both formats. In ODIs, he is the highest run-getter at No.4, with 7,657 runs at 52.45. And in Tests, he is the sixth-highest run-getter at that position, with 6,166 runs at 49.73.

6. Tillakaratne Dilshan

Born: Oct. 14, 1976

Country: Sri Lanka

Experience: 1999-2016

Tillakaratne Dilshan Stats

Other major teams: Singha Sports Club, Surrey, Royal Challengers Bangalore

Career stats in Tests: 87 matches, 5,492 runs, 40.98 average, 65.54 strike Rate, 193 highest score, 16 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 330 matches, 10,290 runs, 39.27 average, 86.23 strike rate, 161 highest score, 22 100s

Bottom Line: Tillakaratne Dilshan

Not many batsmen could do what Tillakaratne Dilshan did. He has a shot named after himself, "Dilscoop" — a shot he used in the 2009 World T20 to earn the player of the tournament.

In the early years of his career, he batted in the middle order and had only moderate success. However, he became a different player once he started opening. The Sri Lankan scored 7,361 runs at an average of 46.04, including 21 hundreds as an opener in ODIs.

The destructive batsman scored 500 runs, most runs in the tournament, at an average of 62.50 and led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2011 World Cup.

5. VVS Laxman

Born: Nov. 1, 1974

Country: India

Experience: 1996-2012

VVS Laxman Stats

Other major teams: Hyderabad, Lancashire

Career stats in Tests: 134 matches, 8,781 runs, 45.97 average, 49.37 strike rate, 281 highest score, 17 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 86 matches, 2,338 runs, 30.76 average, 71.23 strike rate, 131 highest score, 6 100s

Bottom Line: VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman was a true artist with his stroke play, and it was a joy to see him bat. He had the rare ability to hit the same ball to either side of the wicket.

Laxman will be remembered for his magical 281 against Australia in 2001. He, along with Dravid, stitched a 376-run partnership. The match-winning knock turned out to be one for the ages. When Cricket Monthly chose top 50 Test performances from the last 50 years in 2016, Laxman’s epic knock was ranked first.

Batting with tail-enders is a special skill to have, and the Hyderabad-born player was a master. He won many games batting with the tail.

Australia was a top side during his playing career, and he scored heavily against them — 2,434 runs at 49.67, six 100s, 12 50s.

4. Herschelle Gibbs

Born: Feb. 23, 1974

Country: South Africa

Experience: 1996-2010

Herschelle Gibbs Stats

Other major teams: Cape Cobras, Titans

Career stats in Tests: 90 matches, 6,167 runs, 41.95 average, 228 highest score, 14 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 248 matches, 8,094 runs, 36.13 average, 83.26 strike rate, 175 highest score, 21 100s

Bottom Line: Herschelle Gibbs

Herschelle Gibbs helped script the unthinkable, chasing a world-record 434 in ODIs against a mighty Australian side, which had Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken in its ranks. Gibbs scored a stunning 175 off just 111 balls and guided the Proteas to an improbable win.

The right-handed attacking batsman is the only player who hit six sixes in an over in ODIs. He hit all six balls over the ropes in Dan van Bunge's over, the 30th of the South African innings in its match against the Netherlands at the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.

Gibbs hit 21 ODI hundreds, which is the third-most by a South African batsman behind Hashim Amla (27) and AB de Villiers (25). Also, his 14 Test tons, is sixth-most by a South African batsman.

3. Andy Flower

Born: April 28, 1968

Country: Zimbabwe

Experience: 1992-2003

Andy Flower Stats

Other major teams: Essex, MCC

Career stats in Tests: 63 matches, 4,794 runs, 51.54 average, 45.07 strike rate, 232 highest score, 12 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 213 matches, 6,786 runs, 35.34 average, 74.59 strike rate, 145 highest score, 4 100s

Bottom Line: Andy Flower

Andy Flower is the greatest player to play for Zimbabwe and one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen of all time. His ability to play spin bowling was commendable, and his reverse-sweeps were incredible.

The southpaw scored 540 runs in a two-match series at a stunning average of 270 against India in November 2000. He also made twin hundreds (142 and 199) against South Africa in September 2001, and it helped Flower become the No.1 Test batsman in the world.

He was equally effective in ODIs and was the third player to score a hundred in his debut. He scored 332 runs at an average of 47.42 in the 2003 World Cup. However, he decided to call it quits due to a protest against the Zimbabwe government after the tournament.

2. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Born: Aug. 16, 1974

Country: West Indies

Experience: 1994-2015

Shivnarine Chanderpaul Stats

Other major teams: Derbyshire, Durham, Guyana

Career stats in Tests: 164 matches, 11,867 runs, 51.37 average, 43.31 strike rate, 203 highest score, 30 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 268 matches, 8,778 runs, 41.60 average, 70.74 strike rate, 150 highest score, 11 100s

Bottom Line: Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul didn’t follow the standard style of batting. Instead, he had a crab-like stance with his chest facing the bowler, yet he piled on runs in both Tests and ODIs.

Teams often found it hard to dismiss Chanderpaul since his defense was rock solid. The left-hander spent 1,000 minutes at the crease between consecutive Test dismissals on as many as four occasions. In 2002, he batted for 25 hours spread across three innings against India. In 2007, the West Indies legend spent 17 hours in three innings against England. In 2008, he clocked 18 hours in three innings against Australia.

Even though he was known for his defensive style of play, he could play counter-attacking innings as well. He scored a 69-ball 100 against the Aussies in 2003. He took England’s Steve Harmison to the cleaners by scoring 26 runs in an ODI at Province in 2009, hitting five fours and a six.

1. Mohammad Yousuf

Born: Aug. 27, 1974

Country: Pakistan

Experience: 1999-2016

Mohammad Yousuf Stats

Other major teams: Lahore, Lancashire

Career stats in Tests: 90 matches, 7,530 runs, 52.29 average, 52.39 strike rate, 223 highest score, 24 100s

Career stats in ODIs: 288 matches, 9,720 runs, 41.71 average, 75.10 strike rate, 141 highest score, 15 100s

Bottom Line: Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf was the epitome of class and elegance in batting. He was the linchpin of the Pakistan middle order in the 2000s along with Inzamam Ul Haq. Yousuf is the second-highest run-getter for Pakistan in ODIs and fourth-highest run-getter in Tests.

Yousuf set the world record of most runs in a calendar year in 2006 in Tests as he scored 1,788 runs in 11 matches at an average of 99.33, including nine hundreds. He scored six centuries in five consecutive Tests during the year, which is still a world record.