Bettor.com’s Top 10 Classy-Batsmen from 1990 onwards (Part 4)
(Continuation of Part 3 and the discussion regarding the top ten classy batsmen from 1990 onwards, keeping in mind, that case in point is Pakistan’s veteran left hand opener Saeed Anwar)
He made his comeback to the national team in the ICC 2003 edition of the World Cup, in which he was by far the most consistent batsman from the Pakistani team. However, on 15th August of 2003 the veteran announced his retirement as he was dropped
from the squad for the One Day International (ODI) tournament in Sharjah.
Saeed Anwar’s ability to flick towards mid-wicket off a ball pitched out-side off-stump was beyond commendable. Not to forget, his ability to consistently secure high scores made him extremely popular among the masses.
He holds the national record of being the highest averaging Pakistani batsmen against the Australian, as he averages a healthy 59.06 in the longer version of the game. He also scored three consecutive centuries against the Aussies.
One of his classic centuries also led http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, on South African soil. Above all, the veteran left hander is the first Pakistani to score a century against India on Indian soil.
Recently, Indian veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar, broke Saeed Anwar’s record of scoring the highest runs in the 50-over format. Tendulkar went past Anwar’s 194 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in Chennai, 1997 by scoring a massive total of 200 unbeaten runs against South
Africa in 2010. Anwar’s total of 194 runs was equaled by Zimbabwe’s batsman, Charles Coventry, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in 2009.
Saeed Anwar has a phenomenal track record, as the veteran has scored centuries against all oppositions in both ODI and test cricket. The left-hand Pakistani opening batsman has played 55 tests, scoring a massive of 4052, at an average of 45.52. He has 11
centuries and 25 half-centuries, with a best of 188 not out to his name. He has struck 535 boundaries and 14 sixes, allowing him to maintain a commendable strike rate of 55.77 in Test cricket.
Anwar’s ODI credentials speak a bit more about his potential, as he has scored 8824 runs from 247 matches. The veteran has maintained a strike rate of 80.67 and a batting average of around 40.00.
He has 20 centuries and 43 half-centuries, with a highest of 194 runs. During the late 1990’s the veteran was in competition with the Indian Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar, for the most centuries scored in the limited over game.
Eventually, Tendulkar was able to surpass the Pakistani veteran opening batsman, with more and regular matches played for his national team.
Nevertheless, Anwar’s career of 11 years of Test and 14 years of ODIs will always be remembered. There is no doubt that the international arena is yet to see such a natural and genuine timer of the cricket ball.
His credentials in the two formats are commendable, and to add to his inclusion in the top 10 classy batmen from 1990 onward, are his priceless classy shots. He surely is worthy of a number 2 position in Bettor.com’s top 10 classy batsmen from 1990 onwards.
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is by far the most explosive, stylish, accomplished and classy batsman international cricket has ever witnessed. He is simply not the best from his era, but since the advent of international cricket, there is no batsman, who is even close,
to the exceptional record this veteran right handed Indian batsman has achieved.
Also known as the “Little Master”, Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run scorer in the longer and 50-over version of the game. He is known for his back-foot pushes, which forces the cricket ball to flourish towards the boundary. He is a nightmare for some
of the finest bowlers of his era. He is known to carry one the heaviest bats known in the international arena.
(To be Continued...in Part 5)
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