Who is the best finisher in cricket
With the zenith of all forms of cricket, players have been given that legendary tag as one of its own for cricket skill; very few players, however, have earned the name "finisher," for these are the ones who take charge of the situation when their innings conclude in limited-overs cricket.
They escort their team to victory under immense pressure. A great finisher is calm, risks well-calculated, and knows even when to hit the accelerator pedal and when to ease it. But who is the best finisher in cricket?
Who is a Finisher?
Not necessarily the highest scorer in a match, a finisher stays not out at the end, having led their team to victory or as close a finish as possible in the most difficult chases. Finishers tend to be distinguished by temperament, consistency, and tactical nous- they arguably have one of the more challenging jobs to do in limited-overs cricket.
Who are the best finishers in Cricket History?
There are numerous players who can be regarded as the best finisher in world, which is why here, we are going to talk about the players who have not only shown explosive intent but have also led their teams to victory on numerous occasions by their skillful batting and the ability to close the game.
MS Dhoni – The Gold Standard
While talking about finishers, MS Dhoni is undoubtedly the first name that pops up in people’s minds. The former Indian captain has a legendary record regarding being a finisher in some of the toughest situations.
Dhoni's calm presence and calculated aggression have made him the greatest finisher in cricket, whether it is about chasing in a World Cup final or saving a team from a collapse. His ability to stay cool, his helicopter shots, and his timed chase to perfection made it quite a nerve-wracking experience for his opponents.
ODI stats: 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57
Not outs: Over 80 in ODIs
Iconic moment: 2011 World Cup Final – his six to finish the chase is etched in history
MS Dhoni maintains a position among the most accomplished cricket finishers in the entire history of Indian cricket. Through his poised nature and strategic thinking and powerful hitting skills MS Dhoni set himself up as one of the best finishers by landing that memorable six in the World Cup final in 2009. The Indian all-rounder displays an outstanding ODI batting average along with numerous successful not-out innings when his team was pursuing the target.
Michael Bevan – The Original Finisher
Before Dhoni, Michael Bevan of Australia set the benchmark. During the '90s and early 2000s, he became a master at chasing targets ranging from low to moderate on somewhat tricky pitches.
He did not smack the ball out of the ground; he relied on placement, game sense, sharp running, and a brilliant sense of timing between the wickets. Bevan became one of the most respected players in the Australian cricket circle for his ability to be not out while snatching victories from tight finishes. He was cool, rational, and calm- a good reader of the game situations.
ODI stats: 6,912 runs at an average of 53.58
Not outs: 67 in 232 ODIs
In the history of ODIs Michael Bevan stands out as the first finisher for Australia. The controlled approach and level-headed manner which Michael Bevan displayed brought victory to Australia twice in World Cup events. Through his great ODI batting average together with his intelligent run chase approach Bevan proved himself an expert at ending matches successfully for his team.
AB de Villiers – The Dynamic Finisher
If Dhoni was the one whose finishing style was calm and calculated, AB de Villiers was flair and innovation. The South African superstar could accelerate like no one else. With his 360-degree array of shots, there was every chance he could lead any chase and devastate any bowling attack.
AB was not strictly a "finisher" all the time, yet he produced a number of match-winning innings where he finished games in style.
ODI stats: 9,577 runs at an average of 53.5, strike rate over 100
Iconic finish: His innings of 31 balls for a century against the West Indies displayed his destructive abilities in the death.
South African batsman AB de Villiers proved his worth as a finisher because of his remarkable ability to hit the ball in any direction around the field. The speed of his ODI half-century and century together with his triple hundred break batsmen in the last overs thus establishing him as a game-altering finisher.
The biggest question that fans are eager to know the answer to is: who is the best finisher in the world? Well, the answer to it can vary depending on matches and situations; however, these names do stand out the most in the world of cricket. In today's England cricket team Jos Buttler stands out as an aggressive batting threat which specializes in quick gameplay actions at the end of matches. His proficient batting during the final overs coupled with multiple batting abilities enables him to become a threatening force in limited-overs cricket which helped England win the 2019 World Cup.