There is something very special and inherently graceful about the way a left-hander bats. Over the years we have witnessed some terrific left-handed batsmen whose class has dazzled the world of cricket.
Especially in ODI cricket, left-handers have made a big impact and won laurels for their respective countries.
While the right-handed players have also been immensely successful at the highest level but on a personal front, I would prefer to watch a left-hander bat just for their sheer style and class at the crease.
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This is an all-time ODI XI comprising of left-handed cricketers across all ages and eras. While some may find fault with the selection, it is impossible to pick each and every brilliant left-hander in the XI.
The selection criteria - The player must be a left-handed batsman if he is primarily a batsman and a left arm bowler if he is primarily a bowler.
#1 Adam Gilchrist (Australia - Opener and wicket-keeper)
You couldn’t possibly leave out the best ever wicketkeeper-batsman from a World XI. Gilchrist revolutionized the concept of a wicket keeper batsman and toyed with the opposition bowling line-ups on his given day. His destructive approach was instrumental for Australia in the top of the order. Along with Mathew Hayden, the duo gave a hard time to any opponent.
Prior to the 2007 World Cup final, Gilchrist looked totally out of sorts in all the matches. What transpired next is a piece of history. Gilchrist went on to smash 149, that propelled Australia to their 3rd consecutive World Cup title. When he called time on his career, Gilchrist scored nearly 10,000 ODI runs with 16 centuries and 55 half centuries at a staggering strike rate of 96.94.
Apart from his batting prowess Gilchrist was one of the greatest ever wicket keepers. Throughout his career, he took many acrobatic catches and finished his ODI career with 472 dismissals including 417 catches and 55 stumpings. The southpaw played his last ODI against India in 2008.
#2 Sourav Ganguly (India - Opener and Captain)
The selection might raise a few eyebrows as Sanath Jayasuriya and Mathew Hayden both had impressive ODI records but Ganguly being one of the most inspirational captains gets the nod ahead of those two.
Known as the “God of offside” Sourav Ganguly was the perfect foil for Sachin Tendulkar when opening the batting and the duo gave nightmares to many bowlers all around the world. The southpaw was at his peak during the late 90s and early 00s and his innings of 183 against the Sri Lankans in the 1999 World Cup at Taunton is still regarded as one of the finest ODI innings till date.
The southpaw captained India to a historic win in the Natwest series final and also led the country to the World Cup final in 2003. Ganguly finished his ODI career with over 11,000 runs at an average of 41.02.
#3 Brian Lara (West Indies batsman)
One of the greatest batsmen of all time, Brian Lara comes in at No.3. There are not many World XIs where one can omit ‘The Prince’. He had a terrific hand-eye coordination and on his day he would destroy any serious bowling line ups. His huge back lift and his beautiful bat flow was an object of wonder.
He made his ODI debut for West Indies in the year 1990, and went on to play 299 ODIs in a career spanning 17 years. Lara scored over 10,000 runs with 19 centuries and 63 half centuries.
His greatest ODI innings came against Sri Lanka in 1995 where he scored a breathtaking 169 in a mere 129 deliveries. He hit 15 fours and 4 sixes during his enthralling innings. Lara also captained West Indies to an unexpected victory in the 2004 Champions Trophy.
#4 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka-batsman)
The Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara comes in at No.4. He is just behind Sachin Tendulkar in the leading run scorer list in ODIs. Since making his debut, Sangakkara has been a consistent performer for Sri Lanka and have bailed them out of trouble on various occasions.
Sangakkara has been a vital cog for the Sri Lankan batting line-up for a number of years and is the only batsman in the world to score four consecutive centuries in ODI cricket. He achieved the rare feat while playing his last ODI tournament, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Besides his batting abilities, he is also a very good wicket keeper and can don the gloves if Gilchrist is injured.
Sangakkara played his last ODI against South Africa in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final. He finished his career with 14,234 runs at an average of 41.98. He also scored 25 centuries and 93 half centuries.
#5 Yuvraj Singh (India-batsman and left arm orthodox)
One of the most stylish stroke players in the game, Yuvraj Singh occupies the No.5 slot. His adaptability and his destructive approach is simply astounding. Like Lara, Yuvraj also has a huge backlift to go with his tremendous bat swing.
Besides his batting prowess, he is also a useful left-arm spinner and has the ability to break crucial partnerships. He is a terrific fielder too and has taken some extraordinary catches in his career.
Yuvraj debuted at the ICC Knockout Trophy at Kenya in 2000 and played a match-winning knock in his very first match. Yuvraj’s brilliant 88 helped India to overcome the Australian challenge in the semi-final. One of his special knocks came against England in the ICC Natwest Trophy final in 2002.
Chasing a mammoth 326, the Indians were looking down the barrel and were staring at yet another defeat in the final, before Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif played the innings of their lives and steered India to a famous victory.
Herschelle Gibbs is the only other cricketer apart from Yuvraj to have hit six consecutive sixes in an international match. Yuvraj has played 293 ODIs till date scoring over 8000 runs with 13 centuries and 51 half centuries. Yuvi has also taken 111 wickets in his career so far.
#6 Michael Bevan (Australia-batsman, left arm chinaman)
If batting with tail enders and finishing off close matches is concerned, Michael Bevan was the master at it. The stylish left-hander is considered the greatest ever finisher of the game alongside Indian ODI captain MS Dhoni.
An essential part of the ODI outfit, Bevan had the uncanny ability to bat under pressure and find the smallest of gaps. He was a beautiful maneuverer of the ball and scored most of his runs taking cheeky singles and twos.
Chasing 205 to win in a World Cup match against England, Australia were tottering at 135/8 before Andy Bichel and Michael Bevan stitched together a valuable 73-run partnership to bail Australia out of trouble. Bevan played a key role on numerous occasions and finished off more games for his country than any other player.
Bevan played his last ODI against Sri Lanka in 2004 and finished with nearly 7000 runs in his career with a staggering average of 53.58.
#7 Lance Klusener (South Africa-batsman and medium pace bowler)
A hard hitting lower order batsman Lance Klusener is fondly remembered for his heroics against Australia in the 1999 World Cup semi-final. His swashbuckling strokeplay almost won the match for the Proteas from a precarious situation but in the last over Alan Donald committed a suicidal run out when the match was in the Proteas’ grasp.
The match eventually ended in a tie and Australia qualified for the finals, courtesy their better position in the group stage.
Klusener broke into the South African team as a bowler but as his career progressed, he became an entertaining batsmen and also played the role of a finisher for the Proteas. He played 171 ODIs in his career and finished with more than 3500 runs at an impressive average of 41.10. He also picked up 192 wickets in 171 ODIs.
#8 Wasim Akram (Pakistan-left arm fast and left-hand bat)
Arguably one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Wasim Akram occupies the No.8 position. Not only did he have the ability to swing the new ball, he was deadly with the old ball and was the best exponent of the reverse swing. Besides that, he was a hard-hitting lower order batsman and contributed to the team’s score on many occasions.
Akram was at his imperious best in the 1992 World Cup and his dream spell against England in the final is still etched in everyone’s memory. The way he swung the ball away from the batsman coming around the wicket was simply astounding.
Akram is the only fast bowler in the world to pick 500 wickets in ODIs, a feat which he achieved during the 2003 World Cup. He finished his ODI career with 502 wickets in 356 matches at a staggering bowling average of 23.52 per wicket. He was also one of the most economical bowlers in world cricket.
Akram played his last ODI in the 2003 World Cup against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.
#9 Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka-left arm medium pace and left-hand bat)
The greatest fast bowler from the island nation, Chaminda Vaas comes in at No.9. Known as the most penetrative and successful new-ball bowler for Sri Lanka, Vaas made his ODI debut against India in 1994. Vaas was also part of the World Cup-winning team in 1996 and bowled pretty well throughout the tournament.
The southpaw also holds the record for the best ODI figures by a bowler. In a match against Zimbabwe in 2001, Vaas picked up 8 wickets giving away only 19 runs. His hostile spell blew away the African minnows and they succumbed to their lowest ever ODI score of 38. Vaas was also useful with the bat lower down the order and had the ability to play big shots.
The bowler played his last ODI against India in 2008, finishing his career with 400 wickets in 322 matches.
#10 Daniel Vettori (slow left arm, left-hand bat)
The greatest left arm spinner of the modern generation, Daniel Vettori occupies the penultimate position. Vettori wasn’t a big turner of the ball but his accuracy and guile perplexed batsman all around the world. He kept on bowling in the right areas and was difficult score off.
Vettori was also a useful lower-order batsman and improved his batting significantly in the latter half of his career.
The left arm spinner broke into the national team as a teenager and made his debut against Sri Lanka in 1997. After making his debut, he became an important member of the New Zealand team for almost two decades.
The left-handed bowler announced his retirement from all forms of cricket following the 2015 World Cup, where the Kiwis made the final for the very first time, only to be defeated by Australia.
Before calling it quits, Vettori took 305 wickets in 295 ODIs.
#11 Mitchell Starc (Left arm fast, left-hand bat)
A lethal bowler who can swing the ball both ways, Mitchell Starc was simply unplayable in the 2015 World Cup. He finished with 22 wickets at an astonishing average of 10.18 per wicket. Thanks to his brilliant bowling performance, Australia went on to clinch their 5th World Cup title in 2015.
Making his debut against India in 2010, the New South Wales bowler evolved to be the spearhead of the Aussie bowling line up after the retirement of senior fast players. He bowls regularly over 150 km/hr with accuracy and has the ability to perform even in pitches which are not conducive to fast bowling.
In his short career, Starc has already picked up 98 wickets in 51 ODIs at an impressive average of 19.79. With his exceptional skills and his ability to reverse the ball, he could end up being a modern great of bowling in ODIs.
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