10 middle-order batsmen who became great openers

The job of an opening batsman is no mean task, they are sent to face the new ball at a time when the bowlers are both physically and mentally fresh. With high levels of concentration and the ability to make runs in challenging conditions being pre-requisites, opening is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, there have been a few batsmen, who started their international journey in the middle-order, but found their calling as openers, ending their careers with remarkable statistics under their name.

Here’s a list of 10 middle-order batsman who became successful openers:

Sanath Jayasuriya

The swashbuckling opener from Sri Lanka, who revolutionised pinch-hitting in the mid-90s, actually started off as a middle and lower order batsman. At a time when hitting over the infield in the initial overs was not the norm, the left-hander was held back in the order to provide fireworks in the latter part of the innings. Coming in at No. 5 in his debut ODI against Australia in 1989, he could manage just three runs off five balls.

The change came in 1993-94, when he was briefly promoted up the order against the new ball. He used to be shunted up and down the line-up before then, even batting as low as No.7. In an ODI against Pakistan in 1994, he opened the batting with Arjuna Ranatunga and scored 77. After that, there was no looking back, as he made the opening position his own. He ended with 21,032 international runs to his name.

Justin Langer

Langer combined with Matthew Hayden to become one of the best opening pairs in Tests.

The former Australian batsman was known for his unerring concentration and languid strokes on the off-side. An adept player of pace bowling, Langer initially started his career in the middle order. It took him time to find his feet in international cricket, as he managed only eight Tests in his first six years. An opportunity to bat at the top of the order along with Matthew Hayden turned out to be a career-changing decision, and the two became one of the best opening pairs of all times.

With more than 5000 Test runs between them, Langer complemented Hayden well: his style of accumulation was in direct contrast to Hayden's aggressive and dominating gameplay. He retired in 2007, with 7696 runs from 105 Tests, including a best of 250.

Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh has 18 ODI centuries to his credit.

Sublime and classy, Mark Waugh’s batting was a treat to watch when on song. One-half of the Waugh twins, Mark evolved into a good opening batsman, partnering with the attacking Adam Gilchrist to become the second best opening pair in Australian ODI history, behind Hayden and Gilchrist. Together they compiled 3919 runs in 93 ODIs, with eight century-stands to their credit.

Waugh was initially tested in the middle order, the position he generally batted in Tests. Till 1995, he used to bat at 3 or 4, often securing the role of an anchor in the middle overs. In January 1996, he was tested on top of the order, and responded with a brilliant 130 against the Sri Lankans. Four innings later, he made another 130, and followed it up with 126 to firmly entrench his spot at the top. He held the position till his retirement in 2002, with exactly 8500 ODI runs in his bag.

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle has scored an ODI double ton and two triple centuries in Tests.

The towering figure from Jamaica, who has revolutionised the art of hitting at the top of the order, started his international career buried in the middle order. He started off at No.4, and dropped as low as 7 in his initial matches. However, his huge swing of the bat and terrific hand-eye coordination made him a candidate at the top of the order.

He first opened in ODIs against Zimbabwe, scoring a steady 41 in 2000 at Bristol. He took time, but the lack of options made him the primary choice at the top. A blistering 152 against Kenya in 2001 sealed the deal for him in limited overs, and the "Universe Boss" took off from there. He now has 9221 ODI and 7214 Test runs to his name, including an ODI double-ton and two Test triple centuries.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has the highest individual score in ODIs to his name.

With a settled top order in place, Rohit Sharma was handed a berth in the middle order when he made his debut for the ODI team in 2007. He clung on to his place in the side, but irregular contributions were becoming a major source of concern. Till 2012, he had batted as an opener only thrice, and the results hadn't been inspiring.

Come 2013, and there was a different Rohit for the world to see. Against England in early 2013, he opened the batting with Gautam Gambhir and made a stroke-filled 83. He gradually started giving starts and was persisted at the top. However, the deal clincher came against Australia in October 2013, when he blasted an unbeaten 141. In that very series, he compiled a mammoth 209, and followed it up with a scintillating, record-breaking effort of 264 the very next year. Still 29, there's lots of fuel left in his tank. And, the sky is the limit.

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Dilshan evolved into a completely different batsman in 2009.

Pre-2009, Dilshan was one of the many bits and pieces cricketers in the Sri Lankan line-up, trying to provide some solidity to the team that banked on individual brilliance to succeed. With Jayasuriya's form waning, the Lankans required experience at the top of the order. Dilshan had been part of the team for a decade now, but it was time to step up. And he did it in style.

He struck an unbeaten 137 in only his third innings as an opener and followed it with a series of huge scores in all three formats. That year, he made 2568 runs at an average of 55, also inventing the quirky Dilscoop in the process. He also went on to become the highest run scorer in the 2011 World Cup and still continues to play for the side in T20Is and ODIs.

Virender Sehwag

Sehwag was the first Indian to have scored a triple century in Tests.

With a lack of feet movement, Sehwag was deemed unfit to play in swinging conditions, that too against the new ball. Hence, it was surprising when the hard-hitting batsman was promoted up the order to face the shining red cherry. He had made his debut at No. 6, scoring a century in only his first Test innings at Bloemfontein. Part of the middle order for the first five Tests, he was asked to open at Lord's in 2002.

He responded with a blistering 84 and carried on the form with his second Test century in the very next match. A 195 against a top-notch pace attack in Australia showed his true potential. However, his breakthrough moment came in March 2004, when he changed the way openers batted, pounding bowlers of varying specialities on his way to 309, the first triple ton by an Indian. Sehwag served Indian cricket in his own unique way, setting up matches single-handedly with his "no holds barred" approach.

Marvan Atapattu

Atapattu played second-fiddle to the more adventurous Jayasuriya at the top.

Atapattu, who captained Sri Lanka in both formats, was also an able opening batsman, playing second-fiddle to Jayasuriya's more explosive game. He made his debut as a 20-year old in 1990, but took his time to get used to the rigours of international cricket.

He started as low as No.9, and played irregularly till 1996. In late 1997, he scored centuries against India in both Tests and ODIs, forming an ideal pair with Jayasuriya. Atapattu ended his career in 2007 with 8259 ODI runs and 5502 Test runs. As a set of openers, Jayasuriya and Atapattu compiled 3382 runs from 79 ODIs.

Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist scored 9619 ODI runs for Australia.

The man who transformed the role of the No.7 batsman in Tests, was known for his pyrotechnics at the top of the line-up in ODIs. Along with Matthew Hayden, Gilchrist used to brutally attack the opening bowlers: cutting, slashing and pulling them into submission. His initial role was that of a lower order slogger, coming in at No.7 in his first ODI against South Africa in 1996.

In the Carlton & United Series fixture against the same opposition in January 1998, he was promoted up the order. In only his second match in the new role, he scored his maiden century against a bowling line-up comprising of Donald, Pollock, Klusener and McMillan. Two matches later, he notched up another hundred, this time against New Zealand. He finished in 2008 with 9619 ODI runs and 16 centuries under his belt.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is the first man to score a double century in ODIs

The man with almost every ODI record for a batsman under his name, was arguably the best opening batsman of his time. He played ODIs for 23 long years, but didn't start off in the role of an opener.

He made his debut at No.5 and returned with two consecutive ducks. Coming in at No. 4 and 5, Sachin played in the middle order until 1994 and didn't get a single hundred in his first 78 ODIs. However, the phenomenon started in Auckland against New Zealand, when he was sent as an opener along with Ajay Jadeja. Chasing a small target, he scored a 49-ball 82, and made his mark at the top. What followed, was a record 49 ODI centuries and the most runs in the game by any batsman, in an ODI career that continued till 2012. He also became the first man to reach the 200-run mark in an ODI innings. No one knows how his career would have panned out if Azharuddin hadn't asked him to open on that day in 1994.