Every position in cricket is vital and each player needs to have the proper technique, understanding, and mental focus to perform their roles. One such role is defined as a “finisher” whereby the batsman not only performs well under pressure but also guides the team towards success. It is an accepted fact that finishers are players who are successful at either setting or chasing down total scores in the last few overs. There have been numerous players that have excelled at this over the years and are known as the best cricket finishers of all time. This article also talk about Best Finisher in Cricket, top 10 best finisher in cricket and more.
What make great finisher in any sport?
Being a great finisher calls for a person to demonstrate a few basic, but critical characteristics like:
- Ability To Stay Calm – One’s nerves are required to be under full control at critical moments.
- Great Explosive Hitting – Someone who possesses the ability to hit sixes with a lot of ease.
- Situational Awareness – Knowing when to hit and when to change strike.
- Ingame Performance – When a player is consistently performing in tough crucial situations.
- Knowledgeability – Understanding how to approach the game.
Let us examine some of the game-changers in cricket history that are considered as some of the best finishers ever in the sport.
Top 10 Best Finishers in Cricket History
1. MS Dhoni who represents India – The Greatest Finisher of All Time
MS Dhoni’s contribution to cricket has been so great that there has never been a recapp of finishers without him. ‘Captain Cool”, as he is popularly known, was every Indian’s favorite in tough situations. He possessed a set of refined skills that are required to perform the toughest closing acts of the game that, paired alongside the unprecedented poise he showed within the game, made him the most dependable batsman in pressurizing moments.
- Memorable Finish: In the ICC World Cup 2011 Final, India played against Sri Lanka. Dhoni hit a spectacular six that served as the crown jewel of finishing strokes in cricket for a long period to come.
- Statlines: He commanding over 10,000 runs in ODIs while scoring an average of 50 alongside plenty other winning strikes.
2. Michael Bevan from Australia – The Finishing Legend
The first player that comes into mind when MS Dhoni is discussed is Michael Bevan that everyone respected as an outstanding finisher in the limited versions of the game. His technique alongside being strong and bringing magic to the game by being able to shut down the innings and chase down varying targets quickly is what makes him one of the strongest finishers in Australian cricket history.
- Memorable Finish: Securing a last-ball victory against the West Indies in an Australian match played in 1996 by hitting a four.
- Statlines: 6,912 ODI runs scored with an astonishing average of 53.58
3. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – Mr 360
The finishing aspect of cricket has taken a completely different dimension since the entry of AB de Villiers into the arena. His innovative batting style that allowed him to play shots on both sides of the wicket made him extremely unpredictable.
- Memorable Finish: Fastest ODI century in just 31 balls against West Indies.
- Stats as a Finisher: Scored over 9500 runs in ODIs at an average above 53 with a remarkable strike rate.
4. Virat Kohli (India) – The Chase Master
Even though muscle-bound, and able to achieve what very few can accomplish, he may not be the quintessential Indian finisher. What sets him apart is how remarkably he chases. With stunning consistency along with aggressive intent, he has managed to pull victory from the jaws of defeat for India under tough circumstances.
- Memorable Finish: 82* off 51 balls against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
- Stats as a Finisher: 26 ODI centuries while chasing with an average score over 60.
5. Jos Buttler (England) – The Best Finisher of the Modern Era
The lethality of finishers is on the rise in white-ball cricket. One outstanding example is Jos Buttler. His pace changing ability paired with his ability to clear the ropes makes him the most dangerous match winner for England.
- Memorable Finish: ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Final – A match-winning 47* against Pakistan.
- Stats as a Finisher: In the T20Is, his strike rate is above 140, and in ODIs, he has played numerous match-winning knocks.
6. Lance Klusener (South Africa) – The Finisher With The Striking Blow
In the late ’90s, Lance Klusener was a brutal finisher of the South African team who marked his presence and accumulated a lot of fearsome attention. More often than not, he came into the game and showed off his powerful hitting which made him a match winner on numerous occasions.
- Memorable Finish: 1999 World Cup Semi-Final against Australia
- Stats as a Finisher: 3,576 ODI runs scored with an impressive strike rate of 89.91.
7. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – Boom Boom Finisher
Shahid Afridi was easily the most explosive batsman and a crowd favorite becoming well known for batsman who could smash big hits and finish games in a hurry. With a tendency to go over the top, he was known for his fearless approach which made him favorable to many.
- Memorable Finish: 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in 1996.
- Stats as a Finisher: Over 8,000 ODI runs stand and strong with a strike rate above 115.
8. Ben Stokes (England) – The Big Match Player
Ben Stokes seems to have had some of the most intimate dealings with finishing knocks in this century’s cricket. No matter backward or forward, whether it’s managing intense pressure or shifting the result completely, he is certainly among the top finshers of the game.
- Memorable Finish: 2019 World Cup Final – A match winning knock of 84* against New Zealand
- Stats as a Finisher: A number of games achieved from his endeavours in ODI and Test matches.
9. Andre Russell (West Indies) – The muscular finisher.
Russell did finishers roles for most of his career and now if you ask me, he is the most feared if not death has come to T20 cricket because now he is capable of contributing in all formats of the game.
- Memorable Finish: So many finals left to finish in the both IPL as well as international cricket.
- Stats as a Finisher: strike rate of plus 170 in T20I competition.
10. Kieron Pollard (West Indies) – The T20 Specialist.
Pollard has an argument for being the best one-day finisher, if not the best, owing to his capability of hitting the ball to all parts of the ground. He is always looking to attack from the first ball and because he has a lot of experience he becomes a valuable a nd powerful instrument for the team.
- Memorable Finish: Yield Six sixes in an over against sri lanka.
- Stats as a Finisher: high strike rate, over 11thousand runs scored in t20 cricket.
Conclusion
After reading this book you shall agree that the finisher has the most important role in cricket and only a few players have managed to perform this role to the expected high standard. From Dhoni to today’s heroes like Buttler and Ben Stokes, these players are responsible for some of the finest moments in international cricket. It is accepted that the finishing styles have changed over the years, but how well was the pressure handled, strength exhibited, and composure maintained, are some of the more important aspects that each finisher, regardless of the time, possessed. Newer finishers will emerge as the game evolves, but the imprint left behind is something rarely forgotten.
FAQ’s
Who ranks the highest with regards to finishing in the game of cricket?
The cricketer with the greatest ability to finish within the match is known to be MS Dhoni who is always able to secure a victory while also managing to coolly take control of the match with supreme proficiency.
Which cricketer has an admirable number of last over closings?
MS Dhoni and Jos Buttler never seem to collapse under pressure while securing a match standing as one of the leading names associated with last over endings.
Who holds the title for greatest finisher when it comes to T20 matches?
When it comes to the explosive hitting finishers, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard are among the top finest of T20 stars.
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