Now that we have covered the Test Match 11, let’s move on to ODIs, a format popularised by Kerry Packer, and considered a wonderful addition to the sport. Unlike test matches, ODI cricket will contain more swashbuckling innings, batsmen with superior strike rates, and bowlers who are limited to bowling just 10 overs in a match.
The 11 players on display today have set themselves apart from the rest, having earned plaudits from all across the globe, playing eye-catching cricket as we go along. Bear in mind, that all these players may not be in your ideal 11, but consider that I am a 20-year-old who doesn’t really have an idea how Kapil Dev or Ian Botham used to play!
Without any further delay, here’s presenting my favourite ODI 11…….
1) Sachin Tendulkar
Who better to kick-off the list than the God of Cricket. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has redefined cricketing excellence. He makes batting look effortless and simple. He is the top run-scorer in ODI cricket, and remains the first person to get a double hundred in ODI cricket. He has amassed 18,426 runs at a healthy average of 44.83, cementing his status amongst cricket’s all-time greats. He carried the hopes of an entire nation while he was on the crease. His “Sharjah Storm” innings, his 2003 World Cup exploits, and the fact that he has 49 hundreds (world record) are some facts and memories we can associate with this man. Interestingly, one of the more under-appreciated aspects of his ability is his bowling. He has taken 154 wickets in his career, which is very impressive for a part-timer. Sachin was technically flawless. He plays with classical elegance. He remains an inspiration for all aspiring batsmen.
2) Sanath Jayasuriya
The swashbuckling Srilankan opener cements the other opening spot for this team. Jayasuriya was a mainstay in the Srilankan ODI Team, and has played many match-winning innings to help his side to victory. Having scored 13,430 runs at an average of 32.36, what sets him apart is his ability to deliver explosive starts for his side. He struck at a strike rate of 91.20 throughout his career. What tipped the scales in his favour even further is his ability to contribute with the ball. He is the 11th highest wicket-taker in the game, with 323 wickets, taken at an economy rate of 4.78 runs per over. ODI cricket valid players who can offer more to the side, and Jayasuriya did just that. A fantastic player indeed.
3) Virat Kohli
“To become a good player, you need to have talent. To become a great player, you need to have an attitude like Kohli” – Sunil Gavaskar
The angry young man of Indian cricket. India’s shining star. The current captain of the team. Virat Kohli has been a powerhouse of cricket, especially in the limited overs format. Statistically speaking, he is on course to being declared the best player to play ODIs. He has scored 11,867 runs at a mind-blowing average of 59.33 (a world record), batting at No.3 for most of his career. He has also maintained an exceptional strike rate of 93.25, having scored 43 hundreds as well (2nd highest). Still only 31 years of age, he has a lot more cricket to offer, putting him in a prime position to usurp Tendulkar’s crown. Nobody has a better chasing record than this man, known to switch gears as and when the situation demands. He has a brilliant average of 69.40 while chasing. His technique is extremely pleasing to the eye. His favourite shots include the flick and the cover drive. He is one of the most reliable batsmen of all-time, and well on course to becoming the best of all time as well.
4) Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
In his prime, there was nobody as good as Sanga. The elegant left-hander has put many a bowlers to shame with his faultless technique and execution. He is, without a doubt, the best left-hander in limited overs cricket. Having amassed 14,234 runs at a neat average of 41.98, he is 2nd on the all-time top scorers list in ODIs. He has been a vital cog in the Srilankan batting line-up, wreaking havoc for any bowling attack along with other modern-day legends like Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene. The way he plays the cover drive makes it seem like anybody can perfect it, because of how simple it looks. He also holds the world record for the most dismissals as a wicket-keeper, making him the wicket-keeper for the side. He is a gem of a batsman, and a genuinely amazing asset for any team.
5) AB de Villiers
Before I say anything more, do not be surprised if you see this name pop up from time to time on my blog. He is my all-time favourite player, and I am not ashamed of that. AB de Villiers is a generational player, and we are all lucky to have lived and seen cricket when he was around to play it. His shot selection and range is unparalleled. They don’t call him Mr.360 for nothing! He has maintained an amazing strike rate of 101.09, scoring 9,577 runs in the process. He makes the perfect cricketer to come in at this postion in a playing 11, as he can provide the required acceleration better than any batsman I have seen in my lifetime. Whether the situation demands that me make quick runs without taking time to settle, or come in early on and play a long innings, AB can do it all. His versatilility makes him a strong cricketer who just cannot be ignored.
6) MS Dhoni (c)
Up next, we have the man who delivered India it’s World Cup dream. “Captain Cool”, as he is called, MS Dhoni is the best finisher in ODI cricket. His nerves of steel have bailed India out of many tough situations. He is an unorthodox batsman, who has scored 10.773 runs, mostly batting lower down the order. He also has an impressive career strike-rate of 87.65, having shown the ability to accelerate as and when the scoreboard demands it. Memorable moments of his career include his 148 off 123 deliveries against Pakistan in his 5th international match , his 183* off 145 balls against Sri Lanka (both in 2005) and of course, his match-winning innings of 91* against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final, winning the game and the trophy for India. Dhoni also has 444 dismissals as a wicket-keeper, making him a strong back-up option as a wicket-keeper. It will be unusual to see him not wear the gloves!
7) Andrew Flintoff
Interestingly, he is the only Englishman on this list (I had none in my Test side!), but he thoroughly deserves a place on this side. I was flirting with the idea of including another player instead, but circumstances didn’t allow them to take Flintoff’s place in the side (more on that later……..). Hence, here is my pick for the all-rounder position in this side. He has scored 3,394 runs in an impressive ODI career, at a strike rate of 88.62, making him an ideal lower-order batsman for any side. To add to that, he has picked up 169 wickets in 119 innings as a bowler, at a beautiful average of just 24.38, indicating that he has all the credentials to be this side’s 5th bowling option. In the current limited-overs format where versatility is well appreciated, “Freedie” Flintoff impressed cricket lovers with his performances in all attributes of cricket, and gave the England side a clinical edge that I would love for him to replicate for my side!
8) Wasim Akram
Before I type out anything else, I would like to give readers a fair warning. There might be quite a few bowlers who’s names you may have come across in my other list. But that only goes to show how good they really are. With that being said, let us move on to the bowlers I have picked for my side. Wasim Akram played for Pakistan, a cricket team that has developed a huge rivalry with my National Team (I wonder why…?). Regardless, I couldn’t help but admire how good this man was. He ranks 2nd on the all-time top wicket-takers list, with 502 wickets at an average of 23.52, in the 356 ODIs he has played for his side. He is the connoisseur of bowling the reverse-swing, a deadly weapon in any fast bowlers’ arsenal. The “sultan of swing” is one among only 3 bowlers to have taken two hat-tricks in ODIs. The magic he used to generate with the new ball remains unmatched by any bowler to date. His raw natural talent, and execution of swing bowling, makes him an obvious selection for my squad.
9) Shane Warne
It’s hard not to select Shane Warne in any cricketing side. I thought of a lot of options for the spinner’s role, but none could match the prowess that this guy had, although many came agonisingly close (more on that later). Australia’s premier wrist-spinner, and perhaps the best wrist-spinner the world has ever seen, Shane Warne played his way to cricketing glory. He was a master of his art, who succeeded in toppling even the mightiest oppositions. In the 194 ODIs he played, he managed to capture 293 wickets at a bowling average of 25.73, bowling at an economy rate of just 4.25, stats that put him among the top-tier bowlers in this format. Having been part of the Australian side that won 2 World Cups in a row, Warne was a vital cog in the overall success of the team. In 2000, he became the only cricketer of his time to be named by cricket experts as one of the 5 Wisden Cricketers of the Century by cricket experts, the only specialist bowler to make the cut. Kudos to the man who made spin bowling an art to perfect!
10) Waqar Younis
Next on the list is Wasim Akram’s partner-in-crime, and another stalwart of the Pakistan’s bowling line-up. His inclusion in this side isn’t just a testament to his personal ability and prowess, but also to the quality of bowlers to hail from the nation of Pakistan. Waqar Younis is the 3rd highest wicket-taker in this format of the game, and did wonders with the new ball, much like his counterpart Akram. He was in fact a more destructive bowler than all that played in the same era. The lethal yorkers and reverse swing that he generates tormented all batsmen that faced him. He was the bowler who demonstrated the art of bowling a consistent length. Nobody did it better! In his glorious career, he added 416 scalps to his name, maintaining an excellent average of 23.84, maintaining an impressive strike rate (30.5) as well. What a player!
11) Muttiah Muralitharan
Now we come to the final entry on this list. It is only fitting that we sign off with a bang, and nobody better to do that than the greatest bowler in the history of this format (and the game!). Muralitharan is a freak of nature. Anyone who reads his stats would know that he is miles ahead of his competitors. He has 534 wickets to his name, whilst maintaining a stupendous average (23.08) and economy rate (3.93). The spin wizard was a force to be reckoned with, and was Sri Lanka’s premier bowler, delivering them important breakthroughs as and when they are needed. His variations were just a sight to behold. The turn he generated was never easy to pick up, and that made him a priceless bowler, and the best bowler of his time.
Honourable Mentions:-
Rohit Sharma
What can I say about this player that modern-day fans don’t already know. He was earmarked for success from as early as 2006, but could never live up to his potential. It wasn’t until 2013, when he began opening the batting, that we got to see his full ability. Rohit Sharma is a colossal batsman, and he has proven it time and again. He remains the only person to hit 3 double centuries in ODIs, and also has the record for the highest individual score (264) to his name. He has scored 29 ODI centuries (4th highest of all-time) in total, having scored 9,115 runs at an average of 49.27. He almost usurped Jayasuriya’s position in this team, but the latter’s all-round prowess meant that Sharma was sidelined into being an honourable mention. But by no means is he an average player, because on his day, he makes every bowler look like amateurs. His performances in the 2019 World Cup and Australia’s tour of India 2014, are just a few of the many examples of his magic.
Ricky Ponting
It seems very unfair to the 3rd highest ODI run-scorer of all time that he doesn’t make it to this list, but Virat Kohli is just that amazing. But it has to be said. Ricky Ponting is the best ODI batsman from the great nation of Australia. He has scored a colossal 13,704 runs at a healthy average of 42.03. He is also made 30 centuries (3rd highest of all-time), maintaining a good strike rate of 80.39 in the process. Mahela Jayawardena also made a fair claim for the same position, but Ponting has proved himself a tad better than him. His mammoth innings of 140* in the 2003 World Cup final is just one of his many great innings in this format.
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh is a fantastic cricketer. He was my favourite cricketer during my early childhood days. The flamboyant left-hander could play a long innings and provide the final flare for the innings, both with equal excellence. He was my first choice for my all-rounder slot, but he was too similar to Jayasuriya, and Flintoff was a superior bowler. None of this should be taken to mean that Yuvraj didn’t deserve this slot, because he is a legendary player. He has scored 8,701 runs throughout his career, at a good strike rate of 87.67, signifying his ability to accelerate when required to do so. He has also picked up 120 wickets in his career. His performances in the 2011 World Cup, where he was adjudged the Man of the Series is just a small display of his overall brilliance. Ben Stokes has also been brilliant in the format, and he will easily walk into the 11, if he manages to keep up his performances. Till then, Yuvraj remains an easy choice for this position.
Saqlain Mushtaq
Kudos to the man who dared challenge Warne and Murali. Saqlain Mushtaq was a spectacular bowler. In his prime, he was just unplayable. He is the inventor of the “Dossra” delivery, where the ball spins the other way, without much of a change in action. Other off-spinners have managed to replicate that skill, but Mushtaq is one of the few of these bowlers who’s action was never contentious. He has picked up 288 wickets at a mind-numbing average of 21.78, in the 165 matches he has payed for Pakistan. The only reason Shane Warne piped him to the spot was the fact that Mushtaq is too similar to Muralitharan, and Warne has a slightly superior batting record. Daniel Vettori and Shahid Afridi also made a fair claim, but Warne and Mushtaq are better bowlers. It is a shame that we didn’t get to see more of him!
Glenn McGrath
The last and final name of this list, and who better than the legendary Glenn McGrath. He is the highest wicket-taker in World Cup cricket, showing his ability to perform at the biggest stage. Wasim Akram’s swinging ability, Waqar’s raw natural talent and both of their superior stats, meant McGrath had to sit this one out. However, he is a beast of bowling, displaying tremendous amount of control over the ball. He averages just 22.02 picking up 381 wickets in his illustrious career. Fellow pacers Brett Lee, Lasith Malinga and Shaun Pollock also excelled in this format of the game, but none of them could truly match Glenn McGrath’s prowess with the ball. He deserves all the praise he is getting.
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