Top 5 ODI finishers from England

We often see that matches in limited-overs cricket go right down to the wire. And thus, the job of a No. 5 or a No. 6 batsman becomes very critical since he is the one who is at the crease during the closing stages of the innings.

England, who played the first-ever One-Day International, have seen quite a few players don the finisher’s hat.

Hence, let’s take a look at the top 5 ODI finishers (who mostly batted at No. 5 and No. 6) to have played for England.

#5 Ravi Bopara

Ravi Bopara was one of the few Indian-origins to have played international cricket for England. He was a limited-overs specialist. A wristy batsman, Bopara could bat anywhere in the line-up and could also bowl medium-pace. He fit pretty well into the all-rounder's slot in the England ODI team.

Bopara made his debut in Australia in 2007 just before the World Cup. However, it was the World Cup in the West Indies where he performed very well. He scored 165 runs and impressed everyone with his temperament.

Batting mostly at No. 5, 6 and 7, Bopara was very good at manoeuvring the field and finding the gaps. One of his defining innings came against India at Lord’s (in 2011) when he walked in to bat at 61/3 with England chasing 281. He made 96 and when he was dismissed he took England to the brink, but rain played spoilsport as the game was tied via Duckworth-Lewis.

Bopara’s only ODI ton also came at No. 6 and when England were in trouble. They were chasing 270 against Ireland at Dublin (in 2013) and were reduced to 48/4 when Bopara walked in. He joined hands with Eoin Morgan (124) and changed the course of the run-chase as he struck a superb 75-ball 101. His unbeaten ton took England to victory in the lone ODI.