Best Openers in Cricket
Openers are two of the most important players in a cricket team. Be it any format of the game, openers set the foundation for a big total against the oppositions. Every team desires to have great openers in their team. With their solid technique and consistent batting, they make the job easy for the other batsmen. Over the years, we have seen some outstanding openers demolishing the bowling attacks with complete disdain.
India, in particular, has been blessed with great openers since the early years of its cricketing history. Australia too boasts of great openers in the history of world cricket. In this article, we look at the best openers in cricket.
#5 Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock
The opening pair of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock sits at the fifth position in the list of best openers in cricket. The duo has arguably formed the best opening pair in the history of South African cricket.
Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock have scored 4198 runs for the opening wicket in 93 matches at an average of 46.13. As far as the individual runs are concerned, Hashim Amla has 8113 runs to his name in 181 one-day internationals at an average of 49.5, whereas Quinton de Kock has scored 5135 runs, averaging 44.6.
#4 Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
Post the Tendulkar-Ganguly era, India found another ravishing opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. The duo, over the years, has made some sensational opening partnerships and are regarded as arguably the best opening pair of the current era. They are currently the fourth-best openers in world cricket.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have opened for India in 107 matches, scoring 4802 runs at an average of 45.30. Rohit Sharma is currently the vice-captain of the Indian Cricket Team and has scored 9115 runs in 224 ODIs so far at an average of 49.27. Shikhar Dhawan, on the other hand, has scored 5688 runs in 136 ODIs, averaging 45.1.
#3 C G Greenidge and DL Haynes
One of the best openers during the early 90s, C G Greenidge and DL Haynes formed a successful opening pair for West Indies for a long period. The duo played 102 innings together as openers. They amassed 5212 runs at an average of 52.65. Amongst the top 5, Greenidge and Haynes have the best average and thus are also said to be rated as the best openers the game has ever seen.
C G Greenidge played 128 matches during his one-day international career, scoring 5134 runs at an average of 45.03, while DL Haynes amassed 8648 runs in 238 matches at an average of 41.4
#2 Mathew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist
The Australian opening duo of Mathew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist have ruled the cricketing world for quite a substantial period. Both the batsmen were involved in some of the most memorable opening partnerships.
The duo has scored 5310 runs together while opening the batting in 114 innings at an average of 47.84.
Mathew Hayden in his illustrious one-day career has scored 6133 runs in 161 innings at an average of 43.8, while Adam Gilchrist aggregated 9619 runs in 287 one-day internationals, averaging 35.9
#1 Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly
Two of the greatest batsmen ever to play the game, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have been the best openers the game has ever seen. The duo has ripped apart every bowling attack during their era. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have opened the batting in as many as 136 innings and have scored 6609 runs at an average of 49.32.
Sachin Tendulkar, till date, holds the record for scoring the most number of runs in International cricket. He has scored 18426 runs in 463 one-day internationals at an average of 44.8. Virender Sehwag has aggregated 8273 runs in 251 one-day internationals at an average of 35.
