In honor of Worldwide Left handers Day on Tuesday (August 13), former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer took to social media to disclose his all-time left-handers XI for each Check and ODI cricket.
Legendary left-handers: Wasim Jaffer’s final XI
Jaffer, recognized for his sharp cricketing insights, shared the checklist with the caption, “A day late however right here’s my Check and ODI left-handers XI,” paying tribute to the legendary southpaws who’ve left an indelible mark on the game.
Jaffer’s choices featured among the most iconic left-handed cricketers within the historical past of the sport. His groups had been a mix of gamers who haven’t solely dominated the data however have additionally formed the course of cricket with their distinctive types and distinctive performances. These XI’s are a testomony to the ability and affect of left-handers in cricket’s wealthy historical past.
All time left-handers’ Check XI:
- Matthew Hayden (Australia): Hayden was recognized not just for his energy but in addition for his psychological toughness and talent to thrive in difficult situations. His well-known innings of 380 towards Zimbabwe in 2003 was then the best particular person Check rating by an Australian, showcasing his penchant for large knocks.
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): Sangakkara was not only a prolific run-scorer but in addition an excellent wicketkeeper and captain. His 11 double centuries in Checks are second solely to Sir Donald Bradman, highlighting his capability to play lengthy innings.
- Brian Lara (West Indies): Lara’s batting was marked by class and a capability to attain massive runs underneath strain. His unbeaten 153 towards Australia in 1999 is broadly thought to be one of many biggest Check innings ever, demonstrating his match-winning capabilities.
- Graeme Pollock (South Africa): Pollock’s profession was lower quick by South Africa’s exclusion from worldwide cricket attributable to apartheid, however his influence within the matches he performed was profound. His common of 60.97 is the second-highest in Check historical past for any participant with over 20 innings, underscoring his consistency and sophistication.
- Allan Border (Australia) – Captain: Border is credited with resurrecting Australian cricket through the Eighties. He was recognized for his gritty, decided batting and led Australia to their first World Cup title in 1987, together with a well-known Ashes victory in 1989.
- Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies): Sobers was a cricketer with nearly no weak point, able to excelling with bat, ball, and within the discipline. His versatility as a bowler allowed him to be each a harmful tempo possibility and a crafty left-arm spinner.
- Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – Wicketkeeper: Gilchrist revolutionized the function of a wicketkeeper-batsman along with his aggressive batting. His skill to vary the course of a recreation inside a session made him one of the crucial feared lower-order batsmen in Check historical past.
- Wasim Akram (Pakistan): Akram is commonly thought-about the best left-arm quick bowler of all time. His mastery of reverse swing and talent to bowl with tempo and accuracy made him deadly in all situations. Akram’s contribution as a lower-order batsman, the place he scored round 3,000 with three centuries, added to his worth.
- Zaheer Khan (India): Zaheer was India’s premier quick bowler for a lot of his profession, recognized for his skill to swing the ball each methods and ship in essential matches. His efficiency within the 2011 World Cup was instrumental in India’s triumph.
- Mitchell Johnson (Australia): Johnson’s categorical tempo and intimidating bowling had been key options of his profession. His devastating spells through the 2013-14 Ashes collection, the place he took 37 wickets, are nonetheless remembered as one of the crucial dominant performances by a quick bowler.
- Kuldeep Yadav (India): Yadav is among the few left-arm wrist spinners in cricket, and his skill to show the ball each methods makes him a singular risk. His hat-tricks in ODIs and five-wicket hauls in Checks display his potential to be a match-winner.
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All time left-handers’ ODI XI:
- Matthew Hayden (Australia): Hayden was a dominant drive in ODIs, along with his aggressive batting on the high of the order serving to Australia to a number of successes, together with the 2007 World Cup the place he was the main run-scorer.
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): Jayasuriya modified the function of an opener in ODIs along with his explosive batting through the 1996 World Cup. His all-around skills, with each bat and ball, made him a pivotal determine in Sri Lanka’s rise in world cricket.
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): Sangakkara’s ODI profession was equally spectacular, significantly within the later phases the place he scored 4 consecutive centuries within the 2015 World Cup, main Sri Lanka to the knockout phases.
- Brian Lara (West Indies): Lara’s ODI profession was marked by his skill to play match-winning innings. His 153* towards Pakistan in 2005 is taken into account one of many best chases in ODI historical past.
- Yuvraj Singh (India): Yuvraj was the hero of India’s 2011 World Cup win, the place he was named Participant of the Match for his all-round brilliance. His skill to hit sixes at will and supply essential breakthroughs with the ball made him one of the crucial priceless ODI gamers.
- Michael Bevan (Australia): Bevan was referred to as the ‘finisher’ in ODIs, along with his skill to information Australia to victory from precarious conditions. His unbeaten 78 towards West Indies in 1996, the place he led Australia to a one-wicket win, is among the most iconic moments in ODI cricket.
- Lance Klusener (South Africa): Klusener was a harmful lower-order batsman and a helpful bowler. His efficiency within the 1999 World Cup, the place he nearly single-handedly took South Africa to the ultimate, stays legendary.
- Wasim Akram (Pakistan): In ODIs, Akram was not only a deadly bowler but in addition a robust hitter decrease down the order, able to altering the sport with the bat as properly.
- Zaheer Khan (India): Zaheer was a key part of India’s bowling assault in ODIs, significantly within the 2011 World Cup the place he completed because the joint-highest wicket-taker, taking part in an important function in India’s title win.
- Mitchell Starc (Australia): Starc’s quick, swinging deliveries have made him one of the crucial harmful ODI bowlers. His performances within the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, the place he was the best wicket-taker in each tournaments, underline his match-winning capabilities.
- Kuldeep Yadav (India): Yadav’s wrist-spin has introduced a brand new dimension to India’s bowling assault in ODIs, along with his skill to deceive batsmen with flip and flight making him a potent weapon, significantly within the center overs.
A day late however here is my Check and ODI left handers XI. What’s yours? #LeftHandersDay pic.twitter.com/4BjGkNJ5Jh
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 14, 2024
Sourav Ganguly’s omission from the XI
Regardless of being considered one of India’s best left-handed batters and a profitable captain, Sourav Ganguly didn’t make it to Jaffer’s XI in both format. Ganguly’s ODI data are spectacular, with 11,363 runs at a mean of 41.02, together with 22 centuries. In Checks, he collected 7,212 runs at a mean of 42.17 with 16 centuries.
As a captain, he reworked Indian cricket, instilling a combating spirit that led to a number of abroad victories. Nonetheless, the stiff competitors and the inclusion of multi-faceted gamers like Sir Garfield Sobers and Yuvraj Singh, who provided extra bowling choices, may need influenced his exclusion. Moreover, within the context of Jaffer’s chosen XI, gamers like Lara, Sangakkara, and Hayden had been prioritized for his or her constant and game-changing performances throughout varied situations and eras.
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