Find out the top 10 cricket finishers who changed the game with their exquisite talents and remarkable nerves. Such legends are known for being unflappable under pressure, their creative ways of playing, and the bat coming down like a mallet. Whether the original finisher or using uncontrollable pace best players, their work has almost single-handedly won innumerable games. The way they play and how consistently they produce in key moments makes a difference. Cricket has always had some of its greatest players as finishers in the game, and here are a few iconic legends that have essentially created benchmarks for this skill. The fantastic stories you may not know as well of their match-winning heroism. So let’s know who the most famous finisher in the world is.
1. MS Dhoni (India):
MS Dhoni is the perfect finisher and is also known as Captain Cool. His cool manner in high-pressure situations, combined with his smart cricketing brain has seen India through to some memorable victories – not least the 2011 World Cup. Dhoni’s power of reading the game, and his perfect completion while chasing a target is unmatched. Having amassed more than 10,000 ODI runs at an average of greater than 50 might make him the greatest finisher.
2. Michael Bevan (Australia):
The original cricket finisher Michael Bevan is famous for methodical and calculated batting. In improbable situations, he made sure that Australia consistently emerged victorious. Bevan acted as the bedrock upon which Australia’s middle order was constructed; he was adept at planning and implementing any game scenario well. As far as reliability is concerned, his ODI since the average is 53.58 and makes him a reference point for other finishers in the game today.
3. AB de Villiers (South Africa):
AB de Villiers is nicknamed “Mr. 360” because he has changed the way we look at finishers through his creative and explosive hitting. He is such a strong competition in the death over because he could hit a ball from anywhere on the field. We can also mention that this very person brags about holding a lot of records due to his versatility and power to hit shots. His ability to work well despite any pressure is what made him inspirational in today’s cricket world.
4. Yuvraj Singh (India):
Yuvraj Singh is a notable cricketer known for his ability to hit the ball hard as well as being a match-winner, especially in tough circumstances. His most notable achievement was during the twenty-20 World Cup held in 2007 when he managed to score six sixes in one over among other things. His exploits at the World Cup earned him recognition as the World Tournament Player; this showcased his talent for sealing runs when it mattered most. Given that he could use his strength as an attacking batsman against any team, Yuvraj became famous for finishing games in style.
5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan):
Shahid Afridi is nicknamed “Boom Boom” owing to his aggressive batting style and ability to turn the game around just by hitting explosively. Among many other cricketers, with his unbeaten 54 in the 2009 T20 World Cup final, he won Pakistan numerous games. Shahid Afridi’s fearless nature and unparalleled ease of clearing the boundary make him one of the most thrilling as well as effective batsmen at finishing an innings in cricket history.
6. Jos Buttler (England):
Jos Buttler is famous for his innovative and aggressive batting, being England’s contemporary finisher. Buttler, instrumental in England’s numerous victories since his first match, is widely considered to be one of the best finishers, thanks mostly to his unique ability to score runs all around the wicket in crunch situations and execute extraordinary shots under stress. Additionally, his position is strengthened greatly by Buttler’s leadership in white-ball cricket for the Three Lions as well as high-stakes matches.
7. Lance Klusener (South Africa):
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Lance Klusener’s role in South Africa was critical because of his destructive power with the bat. His displays in the 1999 World Cup, when he was named player of the tournament, are worth remembering too. Besides, he became such good at finishing games that other teams feared him due to his nerves of steel when it mattered most (particularly during deathovers). Every so often his input just before the end ended up changing things around in favor of South Africa hence confirming him as one of the best closers ever.
8. Michael Hussey (Australia):
Michael Hussey, who is commonly known as “Mr Cricket,” is renowned for being reliable and composed when batting towards the end of matches. He has become known as one of the most capable finishers in ODIs as well as T20s because he has been able to provide Australia with match-winning contributions multiple times. An instance of this happened during the 2010 World T20 semi-final game where he scored not out 60 runs in just 24 balls to confirm his exceptional finishing abilities even when faced with tight situations.
9. Vivian Richards (West Indies):
Vivian Richards is a great player who hit the ball hard and won games quickly during the first few seasons of limited-overs cricket. Richards’ control while batting and victory in the game made Caribbean cricket a powerhouse. This unbeaten 138 against England in the 1979 World Cup final is one of the many proofs according to which he is called a good finisher. Other people had to learn from his charisma and skill because he performed as a trailblazer in this regard.
10. Ben Stokes (England):
Ben Stokes’s high-stakes performances have made him one of the best finishers truly displayed when leading England to their first World Cup title with 84 not out in the 2019 final. His aggressive but balanced play, along with his multifaceted attacking style has made this all-rounder quite formidable during the closing stages of a game that has often resulted in vital wins for the team.
Conclusion:
Finishing cricket legends have redefined the art by show casting exceptional talent and steel nerves. They have not only secured victories through their incredible performance under pressure but also set benchmarks that inspire generations of cricketers to come.
