Destructive ODI Opening Pairs

Batting opening pairs are most important in a team in any forms of cricket. The job of the openers is to see off the swinging new ball and provide a platform for the middle-order batsmen to capitalize.  Today, Odi cricket has become the longer part of the T-20 cricket and it has shown us some hard-hitting opening pairs. Here we, discuss some of the best hard-hitting and destructive ODI opening pairs in today’s time.

1. Roy and Bairstow

When England was ruled out of the 2015 world cup, they started building a new and young team in their ODI structure. While earlier they had innings building openers, they then focused on destructive openers and found the likes of Roy and Bairstow. After Alex Hales, the drug test, England persisted with Roy and Bairstow and they both have been destructive. When Roy was injured, England management paired Bairstow with James Vince who failed to make a mark. That just illustrates how both the openers were important for England Success in the World Cup 2019.

Roy and Bairstow

In 87 matches Roy has made 3434 runs striking at 107.27 and has made 9 centuries and 18 half-centuries. The highest score Roy made was 180. Roy averages 42.39.

Bairstow, on the other hand, has played in 77 ODI matches and has scored 2923 runs at an average of  47.14 runs. Bairstow too is striking the balls over 104.50 and has the highest score of 141*. Bairstow has 9 hundred and 11 half-centuries in his name.

Partnership Stats:

Innings:39
Runs:2450
Highest Partnership:174
Average:62.82
100/50:11/10

2. David Warner and Arron Finch

The Australian left and right-hand combination make second to our list of the destructive ODI-opening partners in our list. The main advantage these two have is one is Warner is left-handed and Finch is right-handed. That means the bowler has to adjust the line and length each time the strike is rotated.

The power of both the batsmen combined by the trick shots of Warner makes them one of the dangerous pairs to bowl to.

Warner and Finch

In 126 matches Aaron Finch has scored 4882 runs at an average of 41.02 runs. He has been striking the balls at 88.71 and has the highest score of 153*. Finch has 16 centuries and 26 half-centuries in his name.

In Warner’s case, he has played in 123 ODI matches and has scored 5267 runs at an average of 46.27 runs. His strike is 95.76.
In 123 matches he has scored 18 centuries and 21 half-centuries. The highest score Warner has made is 179.

Partnership Stats:

Innings:65
Runs:3297
Highest Partnership:258*
Average:51.51
100/50:10/14

3.Rohit Sharma and Shikar Dhawan

Another pair to feature in the list is the left-right combination of Rohit Sharma and Shikar Dhawan. There was a time when Rohit was criticized for not playing as per his full potential. Then he was slotted at top of the order and then the time changed for him. He has since then to be one of the best destructive batsman in ODI cricket along with his captain Virat Kohli.

Rohit and Dhawan

In 224 matches Rohit Sharma has played, he has scored 9115 runs at the strike rate of 88.92. He averages 49.27 runs and has 29 hundred and 43 fifties. He also has the highest ODI score of 264 runs. It’s remarkable considering he had played his earlier game in the middle overs and was not scoring that much runs.

His partner in crime Dhawan who is known for his lazy allegiance has played in 136 matches and scored 5688 runs. He averages 45.14 runs and strikes the ball at 94.01. Dhawan has 17 hundreds to go with 29 fifties.

Partnership Stats:

Innings:109
Runs:4847
Highest Partnership:210
Average:44.87
100/50:16/14

Do comment what you think about the post and comment down your favourite current Destuctive ODI Opening Pairs.

Note: The stats are correct as of July 7, 2020.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here