Ranking top 10 ‘all-time greats’ in ODI cricket history

T20Is, ODIs and Test matches are the three current formats in international cricket. While Test challenges a player’s patience and grittiness, the 20-over format requires individuals to create impact in no time. However, the One-Day International cricket demands both factors to succeed. While a batsman needs to stay at the crease for a significant amount of time, his strike rate should remain healthy.

On the other hand, bowlers need to go for wickets, but their attacking line and length shouldn’t concede too many runs. Hence, thriving in ODIs isn’t as easy as it might look. However, International cricket has witnessed numerous players who shone in this format and made the world hail them. There have been bowlers with a plethora of wickets in their cabinet while many batters have piled up a mountain of runs.

Regardless of the role, however, the primary purpose of a player is to take his side over the line. In the process, many have achieved individual milestones and earned the title of legend. Although many have thrived in the 50-over format, we’ll look at the top 10 greatest players in One-Day Internationals.

Here we’ll rank the top-10 greatest player in ODI history

10. Wasim Akram

Hailed as the Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram was nothing short of a nemesis for batters during his career. Be it swinging the new ball, containing the run flow or upsetting batsmen with persistent yorkers and bouncers, the left-arm pacer showcased his prowess in every department. In fact, he was one of the first bowlers to learn the art of reverse swing.

The left-arm pacer running into bowl was a sight to behold, but his thunderbolts were never pleasant for batsmen. Now, who can forget his magical spell in the 1992 World Cup final against England, which took Pakistan to glory? Akram took three crucial wickets as the Men in Green defended 249 on a batting-friendly Melbourne track.

Well, that was one of the many match-winning performances which Akram delivered in his illustrious career. Furthermore, Akram maintained his sheen and bowled with the vigor throughout his nearly a two-decade-long career. If that’s still not enough, the former Pakistan captain, at times, also contributed with his big-hitting lower down the order.