20 greatest left-handed batsmen of all time

6. Sourav Ganguly:

The ‘Prince of Calcutta’ was a very gifted batsman. He was perhaps the best offside player when at his peak. With crisp timing and stylish drives, Ganguly made batting look beautiful.

Sourav Ganguly

There was a time when the Bengal player reached batting landmarks of 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 runs in one-dayers faster than Sachin Tendulkar, with whom he had a highly successful batting companionship.

He held a fine record in Tests as well, and his comeback in 2006-07 was perhaps the most astounding comeback in the world of cricket.

7. Shivnarine Chanderpaul:

Alongside Ramnaresh Sarwan, this West Indian has been the mainstay of West Indies batting for more than a decade.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

His open stance and the odd batting technique are bizarre to watch, but this style of his has been very effective for him. He rarely hits in the V and is an expert in guiding, pushing and nudging balls to gaps.

He maintains an average of over 51 in Tests and 41 in the one-dayers, making him one of the most successful batsmen in recent times.

8. Allan Border:

With 11,174 runs and an average of over 50, Allan Border had the most durable cricketing career for Australia.

Allan Border

He was never a very flamboyant batsman, but a gritty run-getter who possessed a sound technique. Border’s batting was, however, overshadowed by his captaincy.

9. Saeed Anwar:

His 11-year playing career came to a sad end, catalysed by his daughter’s death in 2001, but for long Saeed Anwar alongside Inzamam-ul-Haq was the prime run getter for Pakistan. He was one of those batsmen who relied on their timing and placement to get the runs. The wristy flicks were a trademark of his.

Saeed Anwar

In both Tests and one-dayers, Anwar contributed consistently and broke many records. He was the first Pakistani to score a century against India on Indian soil, and his 194 against India in Chennai was for 12 years the highest individual score by any batsman in limited overs internationals.

10. Sanath Jayasuriya:

This man from Matara in Sri Lanka demolished the bowling in his inimitable style at the top of the innings, and especially in the times when there were fielding restrictions for the first 15 overs, Jayasuriya was like a hurricane.

Sanath Jayasuriya

He possessed a heavy bottom hand that became his weapon, and when he got going no one could stop him.

Sanath Jayasuriya, with captain Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva, was instrumental in changing the fortunes of his side whose stature in world cricket grew immensely after the 1996 World Cup triumph.

Of course, there was a certain Muttiah Muralitharan too.