Cricket is among the most popular sports in the world. Over 100 countries take part in this sport. Fans love to see intense moments and tight finishes, and a player who can finish and win matches in crunch situations is very crucial. That is why a team with a good finisher on their side always performs well in pre0ssure situations. This article is also related to a similar fact.
In this article, we will talk about some of the best finishers that the game has ever seen. Here we will cover two different lists, where we will talk about the best finishers in cricket in the previous generation, and we will also cover the top five finishers in the current era who could become great. So let’s talk about this elite list of cricketers.
5 Best Finishers in Cricket (Overal – All Time)
Michael Bevan (Australia)
Michael Bevan was termed one of the best limited-over batters in the early 2000s. He was one of the main reasons that Australia were so dominant in the white-ball format and won the ODI World Cups in 1999 and 2003. He was a cool and calm batter who always performed under pressure and won numerous games for his team. Famously known as “Finisher Master,” Bevan played 232 ODIs and scored 6912 runs at an average of 53.58. His average of 50+ was in the era where a 40+ average was considered great.
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Lance Klusener (South Africa)
Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener was one of the best players to play for South Africa. He came into the scene as a fast bowler but improved his batting skills and was one of the great all-rounders in white-ball. Klusener’s ability to change gears and strike big made him a great finisher for South Africa. He played 171 ODIs, scored 3576 runs, and took 192 wickets.
MS Dhoni (India)
MS Dhoni was one of the best cricketers who played international cricket. He made his debut as a powerful striker and a brilliant keeper. He worked hard with his batting and went on to become one of the greatest finishers of the game. With his captaincy, he enjoyed taking pressure, taking the game deep and winning it for India. That was his signature moment. None can forget his innings in the 2011 World Cup final, when he finished with an iconic six. MSD also holds the record for most not outs (64) in successful run chases, which tells the story. MSD played 350 ODIs and scored 10773 runs at an average of 50.57.
AB de Villiers (South Africa)
A striker rate of over fifty and a strike rate of over 100 are very rare combinations in ODIs, and AB de Villiers is one of the rare players to have such stats. De Villiers, who was known for his all-around game, was one of the best finishers in recent times. He played to different positions throughout his career and succeeded most of the time. His ability to hit the ball to any part of the ground made him a difficult batter to bowl at. He played 228 ODIs, 114 Tests, and 78 T20Is and scored 9577 ODIs, 8765 Tests, and 1672 T20I runs, respectively. De Villiers had the most not outs (35) in successful run chases for South Africa.
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Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
Consistency and impact are two different skills for a batter, and Keiron Pollard was among the most impactful cricketers in this game. He has established himself as a genuine finisher who comes and takes the game away from the opposition. Whether he is playing at the international or franchise level, his role is to finish the games for his team. Pollard played 123 ODIs and 101 T20Is and scored 2706 ODIs and 1569 T20I runs.
5 Best Finishers in Cricket (Current 2024)
David Miller (South Africa)
David Miller is probably one of the most specialized players in this position in the modern era. The Southpaw has been part of South Africa since 2010 and has been doing it consistently in white-ball format. His presence at the crease ensures his team a win. Miller has 173 ODIs and 125 T20Is so far and has scored 4458 ODIs and 2437 T20 runs.
Hardik Pandya (India)
Since MS Dhoni, India have struggled to find a suitable finisher, but star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has done a pretty decent job to some extent. And now, he has improved as a batter with experience. The all-rounder is more dangerous when setting the target, but he has also controlled the game well while chasing. Hardik is currently one of the best white-ball players you can see.
Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
Australia have also tried a number of cricketers in the lower order, and one name that comes to mind is Marcus Stoinis. The all-rounder is someone who can be trusted in pressure situations with the bat. He has evolved as a batter, and he is now a dangerous batter in final overs in ODIs and T20Is. Stoinis has also delivered some powerful performances with his all-round skills, but his primary skill is batting, and he is an impactful player for Australia in the current generation.
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Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)
Glenn Phillips is someone who is equipped with every skill. He is an excellent fielder, keeps wickets, bowls spin, takes wickets, and is a dangerous batter at the back end of the innings. His biggest ability is to take the game deep and win matches. Phillips is a modern-day superstar, which is why he is very highly demanded in franchise cricket and everyone wants to have him on their side.
Jos Buttler (England)
The English white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, is among the best finishers in modern times. He bats at the top in T20Is, but in ODIs, his role is to finish the games for England, and he is excellent at that. His consistency made the selectors pick Buttler as the captain, and he is still going strong. Buttler makes the powerhitting very easy and puts pressure on the opponent, which is the strongest part of his batting.
