Openers who were a bowler's nightmare

2. Matthew Hayden

Strike Rate: 78Average: 43

He has come back twice in the great Oz line-up and turned only more destructive. He is one batsman who had no way of getting out. He stood out of his crease and let the power do the rest.

1. Adam Gilchrist

Strike Rate: 96Avg: 35

If there was any player who ran away with the game, with pulls and hooks that shattered the opposition – it was Gilly. He had this ability to hit big ones early in the match. With Hayden, he easily formed most destructive opening pair ever in ODIs. As a young cricket fan, I remember the fear on the face of bowlers when Gilly took strike. Unmatched till date.I rate him the best in this coveted list.

Who missed out : Sanath Jayasuriya, Saurav Ganguly, Alastair Cook, Saaed Anwar, Gary Kirsten, Graeme Smith, Fleming, Mark Waugh, Kaluwitharana and Strauss.