There was a time in ODI cricket when a 250-plus total was considered more than competitive. But snap to the present, and a team would be said to have underperformed if they put up a similar total. And that is the hard reality. No more than four fielders in the deep, batting power play, free-hits, advent of T20 – blimey! This gentlemen’s game has seen all kind of changes to make the rules tilt in favour of the batsmen, and the batsmen are only too happy to exploit those rules.The 50-over ODI format has seen 13 400-plus totals in its history, most of which have come in the recent past. Bowlers have started getting nightmares prior to every match. The 22-yard pitch has now turned into a batsman’s paradise. Batting strike rates have become the USP of players world-wide.With so much emphasis on scoring rate and AB de Villiers’ blockbuster innings today, it is only appropriate that we take a look at five of the most destructive ODI innings in the history of the game
2021-05-07 11:16:39
